Blake Taylor, Author at Rotoscopers

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The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. Frozen<\/em> was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\nPixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<p>It should come as no surprise that, now being an established staple of the Disney fold, Frozen is continuing to be used, perhaps now even more than ever. Following Epcot's lead, multiple permanent attractions are currently in development for Disney theme parks around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<h2><strong>The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It should come as no surprise that, now being an established staple of the Disney fold, Frozen is continuing to be used, perhaps now even more than ever. Following Epcot's lead, multiple permanent attractions are currently in development for Disney theme parks around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen-1024x401.png\" alt=\"Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54654\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It should come as no surprise that, now being an established staple of the Disney fold, Frozen is continuing to be used, perhaps now even more than ever. Following Epcot's lead, multiple permanent attractions are currently in development for Disney theme parks around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<p>The context surrounding the ride is particularly curious, though. It replaced <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, a longstanding ride celebrating Norwegian culture. Despite being located within the Norway pavilion and even using the same track layout as <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, <em>Frozen Ever After <\/em>doesn't even try to work in Norwegian heritage into its narrative. At first, this seemed to be a departure of form for Epcot. Now that we're a few years after its opening and we know what Disney's building next, though, the ride was actually a taste of a new era for Epcot, one less occupied with education and more focused on characters. Future attractions will bring <em>Ratatouille<\/em> to the France pavilion and <em>Mary Poppins<\/em> to the United Kingdom pavilion. Elsewhere in the park, a <em>Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em> roller coaster will open (though that, at least, has been promised to include educational value somewhere within it). Whether this new direction for Epcot is exciting or apocalyptic depends on who you ask, but the park is for certain in the middle of a transformation toward a new version of itself, and one might point the beginning of that transformation back to Frozen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen-1024x401.png\" alt=\"Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54654\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It should come as no surprise that, now being an established staple of the Disney fold, Frozen is continuing to be used, perhaps now even more than ever. Following Epcot's lead, multiple permanent attractions are currently in development for Disney theme parks around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<p>With stellar Audio-Animatronics figures and even a bit of thrill, <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> is one of Epcot's best attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The context surrounding the ride is particularly curious, though. It replaced <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, a longstanding ride celebrating Norwegian culture. Despite being located within the Norway pavilion and even using the same track layout as <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, <em>Frozen Ever After <\/em>doesn't even try to work in Norwegian heritage into its narrative. At first, this seemed to be a departure of form for Epcot. Now that we're a few years after its opening and we know what Disney's building next, though, the ride was actually a taste of a new era for Epcot, one less occupied with education and more focused on characters. Future attractions will bring <em>Ratatouille<\/em> to the France pavilion and <em>Mary Poppins<\/em> to the United Kingdom pavilion. Elsewhere in the park, a <em>Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em> roller coaster will open (though that, at least, has been promised to include educational value somewhere within it). Whether this new direction for Epcot is exciting or apocalyptic depends on who you ask, but the park is for certain in the middle of a transformation toward a new version of itself, and one might point the beginning of that transformation back to Frozen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen-1024x401.png\" alt=\"Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54654\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It should come as no surprise that, now being an established staple of the Disney fold, Frozen is continuing to be used, perhaps now even more than ever. Following Epcot's lead, multiple permanent attractions are currently in development for Disney theme parks around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<p>Frozen Ever After is a boat ride taking place after the events of <em>Frozen<\/em>. It's \"winter in summer\" day, celebrating the day on the calendar that Anna saved Elsa with an act of true love. To commemorate, we're invited to take a boat tour of Arendelle. Along the way, we see plenty of familiar faces and even hear a few familiar tunes. This structure is unique from most classic Disney rides of this same style in that <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> doesn't simply retell the events from <em>Frozen<\/em>, though the nature of it is so similar that if you're not paying close attention, you might think it does that anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With stellar Audio-Animatronics figures and even a bit of thrill, <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> is one of Epcot's best attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The context surrounding the ride is particularly curious, though. It replaced <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, a longstanding ride celebrating Norwegian culture. Despite being located within the Norway pavilion and even using the same track layout as <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, <em>Frozen Ever After <\/em>doesn't even try to work in Norwegian heritage into its narrative. At first, this seemed to be a departure of form for Epcot. Now that we're a few years after its opening and we know what Disney's building next, though, the ride was actually a taste of a new era for Epcot, one less occupied with education and more focused on characters. Future attractions will bring <em>Ratatouille<\/em> to the France pavilion and <em>Mary Poppins<\/em> to the United Kingdom pavilion. Elsewhere in the park, a <em>Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em> roller coaster will open (though that, at least, has been promised to include educational value somewhere within it). Whether this new direction for Epcot is exciting or apocalyptic depends on who you ask, but the park is for certain in the middle of a transformation toward a new version of itself, and one might point the beginning of that transformation back to Frozen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen-1024x401.png\" alt=\"Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54654\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It should come as no surprise that, now being an established staple of the Disney fold, Frozen is continuing to be used, perhaps now even more than ever. Following Epcot's lead, multiple permanent attractions are currently in development for Disney theme parks around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<p>Out this entire list, this is the only item to be a ride. Everything else is some form of live entertainment. Because of the investment and longevity that comes with building a permanent ride as well as the trajectory of influence this particular ride set into motion, it makes the top of our countdown as #1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frozen Ever After is a boat ride taking place after the events of <em>Frozen<\/em>. It's \"winter in summer\" day, celebrating the day on the calendar that Anna saved Elsa with an act of true love. To commemorate, we're invited to take a boat tour of Arendelle. Along the way, we see plenty of familiar faces and even hear a few familiar tunes. This structure is unique from most classic Disney rides of this same style in that <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> doesn't simply retell the events from <em>Frozen<\/em>, though the nature of it is so similar that if you're not paying close attention, you might think it does that anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With stellar Audio-Animatronics figures and even a bit of thrill, <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> is one of Epcot's best attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The context surrounding the ride is particularly curious, though. It replaced <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, a longstanding ride celebrating Norwegian culture. Despite being located within the Norway pavilion and even using the same track layout as <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, <em>Frozen Ever After <\/em>doesn't even try to work in Norwegian heritage into its narrative. At first, this seemed to be a departure of form for Epcot. Now that we're a few years after its opening and we know what Disney's building next, though, the ride was actually a taste of a new era for Epcot, one less occupied with education and more focused on characters. Future attractions will bring <em>Ratatouille<\/em> to the France pavilion and <em>Mary Poppins<\/em> to the United Kingdom pavilion. Elsewhere in the park, a <em>Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em> roller coaster will open (though that, at least, has been promised to include educational value somewhere within it). Whether this new direction for Epcot is exciting or apocalyptic depends on who you ask, but the park is for certain in the middle of a transformation toward a new version of itself, and one might point the beginning of that transformation back to Frozen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen-1024x401.png\" alt=\"Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54654\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It should come as no surprise that, now being an established staple of the Disney fold, Frozen is continuing to be used, perhaps now even more than ever. Following Epcot's lead, multiple permanent attractions are currently in development for Disney theme parks around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<h2><strong>1.) <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Out this entire list, this is the only item to be a ride. Everything else is some form of live entertainment. Because of the investment and longevity that comes with building a permanent ride as well as the trajectory of influence this particular ride set into motion, it makes the top of our countdown as #1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frozen Ever After is a boat ride taking place after the events of <em>Frozen<\/em>. It's \"winter in summer\" day, celebrating the day on the calendar that Anna saved Elsa with an act of true love. To commemorate, we're invited to take a boat tour of Arendelle. Along the way, we see plenty of familiar faces and even hear a few familiar tunes. This structure is unique from most classic Disney rides of this same style in that <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> doesn't simply retell the events from <em>Frozen<\/em>, though the nature of it is so similar that if you're not paying close attention, you might think it does that anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With stellar Audio-Animatronics figures and even a bit of thrill, <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> is one of Epcot's best attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The context surrounding the ride is particularly curious, though. It replaced <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, a longstanding ride celebrating Norwegian culture. Despite being located within the Norway pavilion and even using the same track layout as <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, <em>Frozen Ever After <\/em>doesn't even try to work in Norwegian heritage into its narrative. At first, this seemed to be a departure of form for Epcot. Now that we're a few years after its opening and we know what Disney's building next, though, the ride was actually a taste of a new era for Epcot, one less occupied with education and more focused on characters. Future attractions will bring <em>Ratatouille<\/em> to the France pavilion and <em>Mary Poppins<\/em> to the United Kingdom pavilion. Elsewhere in the park, a <em>Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em> roller coaster will open (though that, at least, has been promised to include educational value somewhere within it). Whether this new direction for Epcot is exciting or apocalyptic depends on who you ask, but the park is for certain in the middle of a transformation toward a new version of itself, and one might point the beginning of that transformation back to Frozen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen-1024x401.png\" alt=\"Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54654\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It should come as no surprise that, now being an established staple of the Disney fold, Frozen is continuing to be used, perhaps now even more than ever. Following Epcot's lead, multiple permanent attractions are currently in development for Disney theme parks around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Ever-After.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Ever-After-Epcot\" class=\"wp-image-54653\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>1.) <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Out this entire list, this is the only item to be a ride. Everything else is some form of live entertainment. Because of the investment and longevity that comes with building a permanent ride as well as the trajectory of influence this particular ride set into motion, it makes the top of our countdown as #1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frozen Ever After is a boat ride taking place after the events of <em>Frozen<\/em>. It's \"winter in summer\" day, celebrating the day on the calendar that Anna saved Elsa with an act of true love. To commemorate, we're invited to take a boat tour of Arendelle. Along the way, we see plenty of familiar faces and even hear a few familiar tunes. This structure is unique from most classic Disney rides of this same style in that <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> doesn't simply retell the events from <em>Frozen<\/em>, though the nature of it is so similar that if you're not paying close attention, you might think it does that anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With stellar Audio-Animatronics figures and even a bit of thrill, <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> is one of Epcot's best attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The context surrounding the ride is particularly curious, though. It replaced <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, a longstanding ride celebrating Norwegian culture. Despite being located within the Norway pavilion and even using the same track layout as <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, <em>Frozen Ever After <\/em>doesn't even try to work in Norwegian heritage into its narrative. At first, this seemed to be a departure of form for Epcot. Now that we're a few years after its opening and we know what Disney's building next, though, the ride was actually a taste of a new era for Epcot, one less occupied with education and more focused on characters. Future attractions will bring <em>Ratatouille<\/em> to the France pavilion and <em>Mary Poppins<\/em> to the United Kingdom pavilion. Elsewhere in the park, a <em>Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em> roller coaster will open (though that, at least, has been promised to include educational value somewhere within it). Whether this new direction for Epcot is exciting or apocalyptic depends on who you ask, but the park is for certain in the middle of a transformation toward a new version of itself, and one might point the beginning of that transformation back to Frozen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen-1024x401.png\" alt=\"Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54654\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It should come as no surprise that, now being an established staple of the Disney fold, Frozen is continuing to be used, perhaps now even more than ever. Following Epcot's lead, multiple permanent attractions are currently in development for Disney theme parks around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<h2><strong>2) <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy<\/em><\/strong><br><strong>Tokyo Disneyland (2015-2018<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Imagine <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> from Disney's Hollywood Studios on steroids. Or, perhaps more realistically, with a much bigger budget. That's what <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy <\/em>was at Tokyo Disneyland. This was a seasonal Frozen festival on a grand scale that honestly put Hollywood Studios to shame. With a stronger parade, more park-wide activities, and more impressive fireworks, this celebration lasted four years, with its final season ending last year in 2018. Its big claim to fame? This was the only place in any Disney park to date where you could see Prince Hans.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Ever-After.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Ever-After-Epcot\" class=\"wp-image-54653\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>1.) <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Out this entire list, this is the only item to be a ride. Everything else is some form of live entertainment. Because of the investment and longevity that comes with building a permanent ride as well as the trajectory of influence this particular ride set into motion, it makes the top of our countdown as #1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frozen Ever After is a boat ride taking place after the events of <em>Frozen<\/em>. It's \"winter in summer\" day, celebrating the day on the calendar that Anna saved Elsa with an act of true love. To commemorate, we're invited to take a boat tour of Arendelle. Along the way, we see plenty of familiar faces and even hear a few familiar tunes. This structure is unique from most classic Disney rides of this same style in that <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> doesn't simply retell the events from <em>Frozen<\/em>, though the nature of it is so similar that if you're not paying close attention, you might think it does that anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With stellar Audio-Animatronics figures and even a bit of thrill, <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> is one of Epcot's best attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The context surrounding the ride is particularly curious, though. It replaced <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, a longstanding ride celebrating Norwegian culture. Despite being located within the Norway pavilion and even using the same track layout as <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, <em>Frozen Ever After <\/em>doesn't even try to work in Norwegian heritage into its narrative. At first, this seemed to be a departure of form for Epcot. Now that we're a few years after its opening and we know what Disney's building next, though, the ride was actually a taste of a new era for Epcot, one less occupied with education and more focused on characters. Future attractions will bring <em>Ratatouille<\/em> to the France pavilion and <em>Mary Poppins<\/em> to the United Kingdom pavilion. Elsewhere in the park, a <em>Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em> roller coaster will open (though that, at least, has been promised to include educational value somewhere within it). Whether this new direction for Epcot is exciting or apocalyptic depends on who you ask, but the park is for certain in the middle of a transformation toward a new version of itself, and one might point the beginning of that transformation back to Frozen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen-1024x401.png\" alt=\"Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54654\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It should come as no surprise that, now being an established staple of the Disney fold, Frozen is continuing to be used, perhaps now even more than ever. Following Epcot's lead, multiple permanent attractions are currently in development for Disney theme parks around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tokyo-Disneyland-Frozen-Fantasy.png\" alt=\"Anna-Elsa-Frozen-Fantasy-Tokyo-Disneyland\" class=\"wp-image-54652\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>2) <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy<\/em><\/strong><br><strong>Tokyo Disneyland (2015-2018<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Imagine <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> from Disney's Hollywood Studios on steroids. Or, perhaps more realistically, with a much bigger budget. That's what <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy <\/em>was at Tokyo Disneyland. This was a seasonal Frozen festival on a grand scale that honestly put Hollywood Studios to shame. With a stronger parade, more park-wide activities, and more impressive fireworks, this celebration lasted four years, with its final season ending last year in 2018. Its big claim to fame? This was the only place in any Disney park to date where you could see Prince Hans.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Ever-After.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Ever-After-Epcot\" class=\"wp-image-54653\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>1.) <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Out this entire list, this is the only item to be a ride. Everything else is some form of live entertainment. Because of the investment and longevity that comes with building a permanent ride as well as the trajectory of influence this particular ride set into motion, it makes the top of our countdown as #1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frozen Ever After is a boat ride taking place after the events of <em>Frozen<\/em>. It's \"winter in summer\" day, celebrating the day on the calendar that Anna saved Elsa with an act of true love. To commemorate, we're invited to take a boat tour of Arendelle. Along the way, we see plenty of familiar faces and even hear a few familiar tunes. This structure is unique from most classic Disney rides of this same style in that <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> doesn't simply retell the events from <em>Frozen<\/em>, though the nature of it is so similar that if you're not paying close attention, you might think it does that anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With stellar Audio-Animatronics figures and even a bit of thrill, <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> is one of Epcot's best attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The context surrounding the ride is particularly curious, though. It replaced <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, a longstanding ride celebrating Norwegian culture. Despite being located within the Norway pavilion and even using the same track layout as <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, <em>Frozen Ever After <\/em>doesn't even try to work in Norwegian heritage into its narrative. At first, this seemed to be a departure of form for Epcot. Now that we're a few years after its opening and we know what Disney's building next, though, the ride was actually a taste of a new era for Epcot, one less occupied with education and more focused on characters. Future attractions will bring <em>Ratatouille<\/em> to the France pavilion and <em>Mary Poppins<\/em> to the United Kingdom pavilion. Elsewhere in the park, a <em>Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em> roller coaster will open (though that, at least, has been promised to include educational value somewhere within it). Whether this new direction for Epcot is exciting or apocalyptic depends on who you ask, but the park is for certain in the middle of a transformation toward a new version of itself, and one might point the beginning of that transformation back to Frozen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen-1024x401.png\" alt=\"Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54654\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It should come as no surprise that, now being an established staple of the Disney fold, Frozen is continuing to be used, perhaps now even more than ever. Following Epcot's lead, multiple permanent attractions are currently in development for Disney theme parks around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<p>Though it's nearly flawless, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> holds a sour reputation among some for replacing the phenomenal <em>Aladdin \u2014<\/em> <em>A Musical Spectacular<\/em>, which had performed in this space since 2003 and <strong>did<\/strong> vary up its script with different material and even topical jokes for Genie based on current events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tokyo-Disneyland-Frozen-Fantasy.png\" alt=\"Anna-Elsa-Frozen-Fantasy-Tokyo-Disneyland\" class=\"wp-image-54652\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>2) <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy<\/em><\/strong><br><strong>Tokyo Disneyland (2015-2018<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Imagine <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> from Disney's Hollywood Studios on steroids. Or, perhaps more realistically, with a much bigger budget. That's what <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy <\/em>was at Tokyo Disneyland. This was a seasonal Frozen festival on a grand scale that honestly put Hollywood Studios to shame. With a stronger parade, more park-wide activities, and more impressive fireworks, this celebration lasted four years, with its final season ending last year in 2018. Its big claim to fame? This was the only place in any Disney park to date where you could see Prince Hans.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Ever-After.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Ever-After-Epcot\" class=\"wp-image-54653\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>1.) <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Out this entire list, this is the only item to be a ride. Everything else is some form of live entertainment. Because of the investment and longevity that comes with building a permanent ride as well as the trajectory of influence this particular ride set into motion, it makes the top of our countdown as #1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frozen Ever After is a boat ride taking place after the events of <em>Frozen<\/em>. It's \"winter in summer\" day, celebrating the day on the calendar that Anna saved Elsa with an act of true love. To commemorate, we're invited to take a boat tour of Arendelle. Along the way, we see plenty of familiar faces and even hear a few familiar tunes. This structure is unique from most classic Disney rides of this same style in that <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> doesn't simply retell the events from <em>Frozen<\/em>, though the nature of it is so similar that if you're not paying close attention, you might think it does that anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With stellar Audio-Animatronics figures and even a bit of thrill, <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> is one of Epcot's best attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The context surrounding the ride is particularly curious, though. It replaced <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, a longstanding ride celebrating Norwegian culture. Despite being located within the Norway pavilion and even using the same track layout as <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, <em>Frozen Ever After <\/em>doesn't even try to work in Norwegian heritage into its narrative. At first, this seemed to be a departure of form for Epcot. Now that we're a few years after its opening and we know what Disney's building next, though, the ride was actually a taste of a new era for Epcot, one less occupied with education and more focused on characters. Future attractions will bring <em>Ratatouille<\/em> to the France pavilion and <em>Mary Poppins<\/em> to the United Kingdom pavilion. Elsewhere in the park, a <em>Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em> roller coaster will open (though that, at least, has been promised to include educational value somewhere within it). Whether this new direction for Epcot is exciting or apocalyptic depends on who you ask, but the park is for certain in the middle of a transformation toward a new version of itself, and one might point the beginning of that transformation back to Frozen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen-1024x401.png\" alt=\"Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54654\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It should come as no surprise that, now being an established staple of the Disney fold, Frozen is continuing to be used, perhaps now even more than ever. Following Epcot's lead, multiple permanent attractions are currently in development for Disney theme parks around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<p>Interestingly, in the performance I attended, most of the jokes were met with minimal laughter. It would stand to reason that as many times audiences in the room have seen <em>Frozen<\/em> over and over, hearing the same jokes simply aren't funny anymore. However, this could've just been the show I was at and not a common issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though it's nearly flawless, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> holds a sour reputation among some for replacing the phenomenal <em>Aladdin \u2014<\/em> <em>A Musical Spectacular<\/em>, which had performed in this space since 2003 and <strong>did<\/strong> vary up its script with different material and even topical jokes for Genie based on current events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tokyo-Disneyland-Frozen-Fantasy.png\" alt=\"Anna-Elsa-Frozen-Fantasy-Tokyo-Disneyland\" class=\"wp-image-54652\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>2) <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy<\/em><\/strong><br><strong>Tokyo Disneyland (2015-2018<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Imagine <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> from Disney's Hollywood Studios on steroids. Or, perhaps more realistically, with a much bigger budget. That's what <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy <\/em>was at Tokyo Disneyland. This was a seasonal Frozen festival on a grand scale that honestly put Hollywood Studios to shame. With a stronger parade, more park-wide activities, and more impressive fireworks, this celebration lasted four years, with its final season ending last year in 2018. Its big claim to fame? This was the only place in any Disney park to date where you could see Prince Hans.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Ever-After.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Ever-After-Epcot\" class=\"wp-image-54653\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>1.) <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Out this entire list, this is the only item to be a ride. Everything else is some form of live entertainment. Because of the investment and longevity that comes with building a permanent ride as well as the trajectory of influence this particular ride set into motion, it makes the top of our countdown as #1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frozen Ever After is a boat ride taking place after the events of <em>Frozen<\/em>. It's \"winter in summer\" day, celebrating the day on the calendar that Anna saved Elsa with an act of true love. To commemorate, we're invited to take a boat tour of Arendelle. Along the way, we see plenty of familiar faces and even hear a few familiar tunes. This structure is unique from most classic Disney rides of this same style in that <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> doesn't simply retell the events from <em>Frozen<\/em>, though the nature of it is so similar that if you're not paying close attention, you might think it does that anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With stellar Audio-Animatronics figures and even a bit of thrill, <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> is one of Epcot's best attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The context surrounding the ride is particularly curious, though. It replaced <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, a longstanding ride celebrating Norwegian culture. Despite being located within the Norway pavilion and even using the same track layout as <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, <em>Frozen Ever After <\/em>doesn't even try to work in Norwegian heritage into its narrative. At first, this seemed to be a departure of form for Epcot. Now that we're a few years after its opening and we know what Disney's building next, though, the ride was actually a taste of a new era for Epcot, one less occupied with education and more focused on characters. Future attractions will bring <em>Ratatouille<\/em> to the France pavilion and <em>Mary Poppins<\/em> to the United Kingdom pavilion. Elsewhere in the park, a <em>Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em> roller coaster will open (though that, at least, has been promised to include educational value somewhere within it). Whether this new direction for Epcot is exciting or apocalyptic depends on who you ask, but the park is for certain in the middle of a transformation toward a new version of itself, and one might point the beginning of that transformation back to Frozen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen-1024x401.png\" alt=\"Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54654\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It should come as no surprise that, now being an established staple of the Disney fold, Frozen is continuing to be used, perhaps now even more than ever. Following Epcot's lead, multiple permanent attractions are currently in development for Disney theme parks around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<p>If <em>A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/em> at Disney's Hollywood Studios swerves expectations in an underwhelming (yet endearingly quirky) way, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> at Disney California Adventure swerves expectations in an overwhelming way. It's practically a mini Broadway musical, clocking in at 55 minutes and with the costuming and production value of anything you'd hope to find in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, in the performance I attended, most of the jokes were met with minimal laughter. It would stand to reason that as many times audiences in the room have seen <em>Frozen<\/em> over and over, hearing the same jokes simply aren't funny anymore. However, this could've just been the show I was at and not a common issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though it's nearly flawless, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> holds a sour reputation among some for replacing the phenomenal <em>Aladdin \u2014<\/em> <em>A Musical Spectacular<\/em>, which had performed in this space since 2003 and <strong>did<\/strong> vary up its script with different material and even topical jokes for Genie based on current events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tokyo-Disneyland-Frozen-Fantasy.png\" alt=\"Anna-Elsa-Frozen-Fantasy-Tokyo-Disneyland\" class=\"wp-image-54652\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>2) <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy<\/em><\/strong><br><strong>Tokyo Disneyland (2015-2018<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Imagine <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> from Disney's Hollywood Studios on steroids. Or, perhaps more realistically, with a much bigger budget. That's what <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy <\/em>was at Tokyo Disneyland. This was a seasonal Frozen festival on a grand scale that honestly put Hollywood Studios to shame. With a stronger parade, more park-wide activities, and more impressive fireworks, this celebration lasted four years, with its final season ending last year in 2018. Its big claim to fame? This was the only place in any Disney park to date where you could see Prince Hans.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Ever-After.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Ever-After-Epcot\" class=\"wp-image-54653\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>1.) <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Out this entire list, this is the only item to be a ride. Everything else is some form of live entertainment. Because of the investment and longevity that comes with building a permanent ride as well as the trajectory of influence this particular ride set into motion, it makes the top of our countdown as #1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frozen Ever After is a boat ride taking place after the events of <em>Frozen<\/em>. It's \"winter in summer\" day, celebrating the day on the calendar that Anna saved Elsa with an act of true love. To commemorate, we're invited to take a boat tour of Arendelle. Along the way, we see plenty of familiar faces and even hear a few familiar tunes. This structure is unique from most classic Disney rides of this same style in that <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> doesn't simply retell the events from <em>Frozen<\/em>, though the nature of it is so similar that if you're not paying close attention, you might think it does that anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With stellar Audio-Animatronics figures and even a bit of thrill, <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> is one of Epcot's best attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The context surrounding the ride is particularly curious, though. It replaced <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, a longstanding ride celebrating Norwegian culture. Despite being located within the Norway pavilion and even using the same track layout as <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, <em>Frozen Ever After <\/em>doesn't even try to work in Norwegian heritage into its narrative. At first, this seemed to be a departure of form for Epcot. Now that we're a few years after its opening and we know what Disney's building next, though, the ride was actually a taste of a new era for Epcot, one less occupied with education and more focused on characters. Future attractions will bring <em>Ratatouille<\/em> to the France pavilion and <em>Mary Poppins<\/em> to the United Kingdom pavilion. Elsewhere in the park, a <em>Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em> roller coaster will open (though that, at least, has been promised to include educational value somewhere within it). Whether this new direction for Epcot is exciting or apocalyptic depends on who you ask, but the park is for certain in the middle of a transformation toward a new version of itself, and one might point the beginning of that transformation back to Frozen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen-1024x401.png\" alt=\"Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54654\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It should come as no surprise that, now being an established staple of the Disney fold, Frozen is continuing to be used, perhaps now even more than ever. Following Epcot's lead, multiple permanent attractions are currently in development for Disney theme parks around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<h2><strong>3) <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em><br>Disney California Adventure (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If <em>A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/em> at Disney's Hollywood Studios swerves expectations in an underwhelming (yet endearingly quirky) way, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> at Disney California Adventure swerves expectations in an overwhelming way. It's practically a mini Broadway musical, clocking in at 55 minutes and with the costuming and production value of anything you'd hope to find in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, in the performance I attended, most of the jokes were met with minimal laughter. It would stand to reason that as many times audiences in the room have seen <em>Frozen<\/em> over and over, hearing the same jokes simply aren't funny anymore. However, this could've just been the show I was at and not a common issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though it's nearly flawless, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> holds a sour reputation among some for replacing the phenomenal <em>Aladdin \u2014<\/em> <em>A Musical Spectacular<\/em>, which had performed in this space since 2003 and <strong>did<\/strong> vary up its script with different material and even topical jokes for Genie based on current events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tokyo-Disneyland-Frozen-Fantasy.png\" alt=\"Anna-Elsa-Frozen-Fantasy-Tokyo-Disneyland\" class=\"wp-image-54652\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>2) <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy<\/em><\/strong><br><strong>Tokyo Disneyland (2015-2018<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Imagine <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> from Disney's Hollywood Studios on steroids. Or, perhaps more realistically, with a much bigger budget. That's what <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy <\/em>was at Tokyo Disneyland. This was a seasonal Frozen festival on a grand scale that honestly put Hollywood Studios to shame. With a stronger parade, more park-wide activities, and more impressive fireworks, this celebration lasted four years, with its final season ending last year in 2018. Its big claim to fame? This was the only place in any Disney park to date where you could see Prince Hans.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Ever-After.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Ever-After-Epcot\" class=\"wp-image-54653\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>1.) <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Out this entire list, this is the only item to be a ride. Everything else is some form of live entertainment. Because of the investment and longevity that comes with building a permanent ride as well as the trajectory of influence this particular ride set into motion, it makes the top of our countdown as #1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frozen Ever After is a boat ride taking place after the events of <em>Frozen<\/em>. It's \"winter in summer\" day, celebrating the day on the calendar that Anna saved Elsa with an act of true love. To commemorate, we're invited to take a boat tour of Arendelle. Along the way, we see plenty of familiar faces and even hear a few familiar tunes. This structure is unique from most classic Disney rides of this same style in that <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> doesn't simply retell the events from <em>Frozen<\/em>, though the nature of it is so similar that if you're not paying close attention, you might think it does that anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With stellar Audio-Animatronics figures and even a bit of thrill, <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> is one of Epcot's best attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The context surrounding the ride is particularly curious, though. It replaced <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, a longstanding ride celebrating Norwegian culture. Despite being located within the Norway pavilion and even using the same track layout as <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, <em>Frozen Ever After <\/em>doesn't even try to work in Norwegian heritage into its narrative. At first, this seemed to be a departure of form for Epcot. Now that we're a few years after its opening and we know what Disney's building next, though, the ride was actually a taste of a new era for Epcot, one less occupied with education and more focused on characters. Future attractions will bring <em>Ratatouille<\/em> to the France pavilion and <em>Mary Poppins<\/em> to the United Kingdom pavilion. Elsewhere in the park, a <em>Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em> roller coaster will open (though that, at least, has been promised to include educational value somewhere within it). Whether this new direction for Epcot is exciting or apocalyptic depends on who you ask, but the park is for certain in the middle of a transformation toward a new version of itself, and one might point the beginning of that transformation back to Frozen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen-1024x401.png\" alt=\"Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54654\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It should come as no surprise that, now being an established staple of the Disney fold, Frozen is continuing to be used, perhaps now even more than ever. Following Epcot's lead, multiple permanent attractions are currently in development for Disney theme parks around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Live-Hyperion.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Live-Hyperion\" class=\"wp-image-54651\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>3) <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em><br>Disney California Adventure (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If <em>A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/em> at Disney's Hollywood Studios swerves expectations in an underwhelming (yet endearingly quirky) way, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> at Disney California Adventure swerves expectations in an overwhelming way. It's practically a mini Broadway musical, clocking in at 55 minutes and with the costuming and production value of anything you'd hope to find in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, in the performance I attended, most of the jokes were met with minimal laughter. It would stand to reason that as many times audiences in the room have seen <em>Frozen<\/em> over and over, hearing the same jokes simply aren't funny anymore. However, this could've just been the show I was at and not a common issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though it's nearly flawless, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> holds a sour reputation among some for replacing the phenomenal <em>Aladdin \u2014<\/em> <em>A Musical Spectacular<\/em>, which had performed in this space since 2003 and <strong>did<\/strong> vary up its script with different material and even topical jokes for Genie based on current events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tokyo-Disneyland-Frozen-Fantasy.png\" alt=\"Anna-Elsa-Frozen-Fantasy-Tokyo-Disneyland\" class=\"wp-image-54652\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>2) <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy<\/em><\/strong><br><strong>Tokyo Disneyland (2015-2018<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Imagine <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> from Disney's Hollywood Studios on steroids. Or, perhaps more realistically, with a much bigger budget. That's what <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy <\/em>was at Tokyo Disneyland. This was a seasonal Frozen festival on a grand scale that honestly put Hollywood Studios to shame. With a stronger parade, more park-wide activities, and more impressive fireworks, this celebration lasted four years, with its final season ending last year in 2018. Its big claim to fame? This was the only place in any Disney park to date where you could see Prince Hans.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Ever-After.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Ever-After-Epcot\" class=\"wp-image-54653\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>1.) <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Out this entire list, this is the only item to be a ride. Everything else is some form of live entertainment. Because of the investment and longevity that comes with building a permanent ride as well as the trajectory of influence this particular ride set into motion, it makes the top of our countdown as #1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frozen Ever After is a boat ride taking place after the events of <em>Frozen<\/em>. It's \"winter in summer\" day, celebrating the day on the calendar that Anna saved Elsa with an act of true love. To commemorate, we're invited to take a boat tour of Arendelle. Along the way, we see plenty of familiar faces and even hear a few familiar tunes. This structure is unique from most classic Disney rides of this same style in that <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> doesn't simply retell the events from <em>Frozen<\/em>, though the nature of it is so similar that if you're not paying close attention, you might think it does that anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With stellar Audio-Animatronics figures and even a bit of thrill, <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> is one of Epcot's best attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The context surrounding the ride is particularly curious, though. It replaced <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, a longstanding ride celebrating Norwegian culture. Despite being located within the Norway pavilion and even using the same track layout as <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, <em>Frozen Ever After <\/em>doesn't even try to work in Norwegian heritage into its narrative. At first, this seemed to be a departure of form for Epcot. Now that we're a few years after its opening and we know what Disney's building next, though, the ride was actually a taste of a new era for Epcot, one less occupied with education and more focused on characters. Future attractions will bring <em>Ratatouille<\/em> to the France pavilion and <em>Mary Poppins<\/em> to the United Kingdom pavilion. Elsewhere in the park, a <em>Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em> roller coaster will open (though that, at least, has been promised to include educational value somewhere within it). Whether this new direction for Epcot is exciting or apocalyptic depends on who you ask, but the park is for certain in the middle of a transformation toward a new version of itself, and one might point the beginning of that transformation back to Frozen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen-1024x401.png\" alt=\"Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54654\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It should come as no surprise that, now being an established staple of the Disney fold, Frozen is continuing to be used, perhaps now even more than ever. Following Epcot's lead, multiple permanent attractions are currently in development for Disney theme parks around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<p>The spectacle itself is still the same as it's always been since 2007. The lights are no different, and are beautiful as ever. Simply the \"turning on\" ceremony each night is now void of Cinderella. Will Elsa be convicted of trespassing charges this year?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Live-Hyperion.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Live-Hyperion\" class=\"wp-image-54651\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>3) <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em><br>Disney California Adventure (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If <em>A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/em> at Disney's Hollywood Studios swerves expectations in an underwhelming (yet endearingly quirky) way, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> at Disney California Adventure swerves expectations in an overwhelming way. It's practically a mini Broadway musical, clocking in at 55 minutes and with the costuming and production value of anything you'd hope to find in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, in the performance I attended, most of the jokes were met with minimal laughter. It would stand to reason that as many times audiences in the room have seen <em>Frozen<\/em> over and over, hearing the same jokes simply aren't funny anymore. However, this could've just been the show I was at and not a common issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though it's nearly flawless, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> holds a sour reputation among some for replacing the phenomenal <em>Aladdin \u2014<\/em> <em>A Musical Spectacular<\/em>, which had performed in this space since 2003 and <strong>did<\/strong> vary up its script with different material and even topical jokes for Genie based on current events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tokyo-Disneyland-Frozen-Fantasy.png\" alt=\"Anna-Elsa-Frozen-Fantasy-Tokyo-Disneyland\" class=\"wp-image-54652\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>2) <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy<\/em><\/strong><br><strong>Tokyo Disneyland (2015-2018<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Imagine <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> from Disney's Hollywood Studios on steroids. Or, perhaps more realistically, with a much bigger budget. That's what <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy <\/em>was at Tokyo Disneyland. This was a seasonal Frozen festival on a grand scale that honestly put Hollywood Studios to shame. With a stronger parade, more park-wide activities, and more impressive fireworks, this celebration lasted four years, with its final season ending last year in 2018. Its big claim to fame? This was the only place in any Disney park to date where you could see Prince Hans.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Ever-After.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Ever-After-Epcot\" class=\"wp-image-54653\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>1.) <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Out this entire list, this is the only item to be a ride. Everything else is some form of live entertainment. Because of the investment and longevity that comes with building a permanent ride as well as the trajectory of influence this particular ride set into motion, it makes the top of our countdown as #1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frozen Ever After is a boat ride taking place after the events of <em>Frozen<\/em>. It's \"winter in summer\" day, celebrating the day on the calendar that Anna saved Elsa with an act of true love. To commemorate, we're invited to take a boat tour of Arendelle. Along the way, we see plenty of familiar faces and even hear a few familiar tunes. This structure is unique from most classic Disney rides of this same style in that <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> doesn't simply retell the events from <em>Frozen<\/em>, though the nature of it is so similar that if you're not paying close attention, you might think it does that anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With stellar Audio-Animatronics figures and even a bit of thrill, <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> is one of Epcot's best attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The context surrounding the ride is particularly curious, though. It replaced <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, a longstanding ride celebrating Norwegian culture. Despite being located within the Norway pavilion and even using the same track layout as <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, <em>Frozen Ever After <\/em>doesn't even try to work in Norwegian heritage into its narrative. At first, this seemed to be a departure of form for Epcot. Now that we're a few years after its opening and we know what Disney's building next, though, the ride was actually a taste of a new era for Epcot, one less occupied with education and more focused on characters. Future attractions will bring <em>Ratatouille<\/em> to the France pavilion and <em>Mary Poppins<\/em> to the United Kingdom pavilion. Elsewhere in the park, a <em>Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em> roller coaster will open (though that, at least, has been promised to include educational value somewhere within it). Whether this new direction for Epcot is exciting or apocalyptic depends on who you ask, but the park is for certain in the middle of a transformation toward a new version of itself, and one might point the beginning of that transformation back to Frozen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen-1024x401.png\" alt=\"Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54654\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It should come as no surprise that, now being an established staple of the Disney fold, Frozen is continuing to be used, perhaps now even more than ever. Following Epcot's lead, multiple permanent attractions are currently in development for Disney theme parks around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<p>Despite this nitpicking, the brief ceremony is a delight. It peppers in clever phrases from <em>Frozen<\/em>'s script throughout its dialogue and includes pleasant orchestral versions of <em>Frozen<\/em> songs and Christmas tunes alike in what is basically an eight minutes of stalled anticipation for the lights to follow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The spectacle itself is still the same as it's always been since 2007. The lights are no different, and are beautiful as ever. Simply the \"turning on\" ceremony each night is now void of Cinderella. Will Elsa be convicted of trespassing charges this year?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Live-Hyperion.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Live-Hyperion\" class=\"wp-image-54651\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>3) <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em><br>Disney California Adventure (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If <em>A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/em> at Disney's Hollywood Studios swerves expectations in an underwhelming (yet endearingly quirky) way, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> at Disney California Adventure swerves expectations in an overwhelming way. It's practically a mini Broadway musical, clocking in at 55 minutes and with the costuming and production value of anything you'd hope to find in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, in the performance I attended, most of the jokes were met with minimal laughter. It would stand to reason that as many times audiences in the room have seen <em>Frozen<\/em> over and over, hearing the same jokes simply aren't funny anymore. However, this could've just been the show I was at and not a common issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though it's nearly flawless, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> holds a sour reputation among some for replacing the phenomenal <em>Aladdin \u2014<\/em> <em>A Musical Spectacular<\/em>, which had performed in this space since 2003 and <strong>did<\/strong> vary up its script with different material and even topical jokes for Genie based on current events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tokyo-Disneyland-Frozen-Fantasy.png\" alt=\"Anna-Elsa-Frozen-Fantasy-Tokyo-Disneyland\" class=\"wp-image-54652\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>2) <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy<\/em><\/strong><br><strong>Tokyo Disneyland (2015-2018<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Imagine <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> from Disney's Hollywood Studios on steroids. Or, perhaps more realistically, with a much bigger budget. That's what <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy <\/em>was at Tokyo Disneyland. This was a seasonal Frozen festival on a grand scale that honestly put Hollywood Studios to shame. With a stronger parade, more park-wide activities, and more impressive fireworks, this celebration lasted four years, with its final season ending last year in 2018. Its big claim to fame? This was the only place in any Disney park to date where you could see Prince Hans.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Ever-After.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Ever-After-Epcot\" class=\"wp-image-54653\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>1.) <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Out this entire list, this is the only item to be a ride. Everything else is some form of live entertainment. Because of the investment and longevity that comes with building a permanent ride as well as the trajectory of influence this particular ride set into motion, it makes the top of our countdown as #1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frozen Ever After is a boat ride taking place after the events of <em>Frozen<\/em>. It's \"winter in summer\" day, celebrating the day on the calendar that Anna saved Elsa with an act of true love. To commemorate, we're invited to take a boat tour of Arendelle. Along the way, we see plenty of familiar faces and even hear a few familiar tunes. This structure is unique from most classic Disney rides of this same style in that <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> doesn't simply retell the events from <em>Frozen<\/em>, though the nature of it is so similar that if you're not paying close attention, you might think it does that anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With stellar Audio-Animatronics figures and even a bit of thrill, <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> is one of Epcot's best attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The context surrounding the ride is particularly curious, though. It replaced <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, a longstanding ride celebrating Norwegian culture. Despite being located within the Norway pavilion and even using the same track layout as <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, <em>Frozen Ever After <\/em>doesn't even try to work in Norwegian heritage into its narrative. At first, this seemed to be a departure of form for Epcot. Now that we're a few years after its opening and we know what Disney's building next, though, the ride was actually a taste of a new era for Epcot, one less occupied with education and more focused on characters. Future attractions will bring <em>Ratatouille<\/em> to the France pavilion and <em>Mary Poppins<\/em> to the United Kingdom pavilion. Elsewhere in the park, a <em>Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em> roller coaster will open (though that, at least, has been promised to include educational value somewhere within it). Whether this new direction for Epcot is exciting or apocalyptic depends on who you ask, but the park is for certain in the middle of a transformation toward a new version of itself, and one might point the beginning of that transformation back to Frozen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen-1024x401.png\" alt=\"Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54654\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It should come as no surprise that, now being an established staple of the Disney fold, Frozen is continuing to be used, perhaps now even more than ever. Following Epcot's lead, multiple permanent attractions are currently in development for Disney theme parks around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<p>That seems like a perfect cue for the person who DOES live here, right? Instead of Cinderella appearing and giving her blessing, though, Anna literally has the guests peer pressure Elsa into making graffiti on the castle. Ok, ok, so maybe this wasn't meant to be analyzed with such scrutiny, but I can't shake that this could've gone a little different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite this nitpicking, the brief ceremony is a delight. It peppers in clever phrases from <em>Frozen<\/em>'s script throughout its dialogue and includes pleasant orchestral versions of <em>Frozen<\/em> songs and Christmas tunes alike in what is basically an eight minutes of stalled anticipation for the lights to follow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The spectacle itself is still the same as it's always been since 2007. The lights are no different, and are beautiful as ever. Simply the \"turning on\" ceremony each night is now void of Cinderella. Will Elsa be convicted of trespassing charges this year?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Live-Hyperion.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Live-Hyperion\" class=\"wp-image-54651\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>3) <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em><br>Disney California Adventure (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If <em>A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/em> at Disney's Hollywood Studios swerves expectations in an underwhelming (yet endearingly quirky) way, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> at Disney California Adventure swerves expectations in an overwhelming way. It's practically a mini Broadway musical, clocking in at 55 minutes and with the costuming and production value of anything you'd hope to find in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, in the performance I attended, most of the jokes were met with minimal laughter. It would stand to reason that as many times audiences in the room have seen <em>Frozen<\/em> over and over, hearing the same jokes simply aren't funny anymore. However, this could've just been the show I was at and not a common issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though it's nearly flawless, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> holds a sour reputation among some for replacing the phenomenal <em>Aladdin \u2014<\/em> <em>A Musical Spectacular<\/em>, which had performed in this space since 2003 and <strong>did<\/strong> vary up its script with different material and even topical jokes for Genie based on current events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tokyo-Disneyland-Frozen-Fantasy.png\" alt=\"Anna-Elsa-Frozen-Fantasy-Tokyo-Disneyland\" class=\"wp-image-54652\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>2) <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy<\/em><\/strong><br><strong>Tokyo Disneyland (2015-2018<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Imagine <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> from Disney's Hollywood Studios on steroids. Or, perhaps more realistically, with a much bigger budget. That's what <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy <\/em>was at Tokyo Disneyland. This was a seasonal Frozen festival on a grand scale that honestly put Hollywood Studios to shame. With a stronger parade, more park-wide activities, and more impressive fireworks, this celebration lasted four years, with its final season ending last year in 2018. Its big claim to fame? This was the only place in any Disney park to date where you could see Prince Hans.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Ever-After.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Ever-After-Epcot\" class=\"wp-image-54653\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>1.) <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Out this entire list, this is the only item to be a ride. Everything else is some form of live entertainment. Because of the investment and longevity that comes with building a permanent ride as well as the trajectory of influence this particular ride set into motion, it makes the top of our countdown as #1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frozen Ever After is a boat ride taking place after the events of <em>Frozen<\/em>. It's \"winter in summer\" day, celebrating the day on the calendar that Anna saved Elsa with an act of true love. To commemorate, we're invited to take a boat tour of Arendelle. Along the way, we see plenty of familiar faces and even hear a few familiar tunes. This structure is unique from most classic Disney rides of this same style in that <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> doesn't simply retell the events from <em>Frozen<\/em>, though the nature of it is so similar that if you're not paying close attention, you might think it does that anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With stellar Audio-Animatronics figures and even a bit of thrill, <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> is one of Epcot's best attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The context surrounding the ride is particularly curious, though. It replaced <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, a longstanding ride celebrating Norwegian culture. Despite being located within the Norway pavilion and even using the same track layout as <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, <em>Frozen Ever After <\/em>doesn't even try to work in Norwegian heritage into its narrative. At first, this seemed to be a departure of form for Epcot. Now that we're a few years after its opening and we know what Disney's building next, though, the ride was actually a taste of a new era for Epcot, one less occupied with education and more focused on characters. Future attractions will bring <em>Ratatouille<\/em> to the France pavilion and <em>Mary Poppins<\/em> to the United Kingdom pavilion. Elsewhere in the park, a <em>Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em> roller coaster will open (though that, at least, has been promised to include educational value somewhere within it). Whether this new direction for Epcot is exciting or apocalyptic depends on who you ask, but the park is for certain in the middle of a transformation toward a new version of itself, and one might point the beginning of that transformation back to Frozen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen-1024x401.png\" alt=\"Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54654\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It should come as no surprise that, now being an established staple of the Disney fold, Frozen is continuing to be used, perhaps now even more than ever. Following Epcot's lead, multiple permanent attractions are currently in development for Disney theme parks around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<p>Turns out, Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf are visiting this kingdom for the holidays. (They sure do visit neighboring kingdoms often, huh?) They remark about how beautiful the decorations are everywhere, but notice that the castle is missing decor. \"Elsa!\" Anna exclaims. \"Wouldn't it be great if you used your frozen fractiley powers to cover the castle in ice and snow?!\" Elsa replies, \"Anna, I'd love to, but I can't. This isn't our home. We're just visiting and we have to be respectful to the people who live here.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That seems like a perfect cue for the person who DOES live here, right? Instead of Cinderella appearing and giving her blessing, though, Anna literally has the guests peer pressure Elsa into making graffiti on the castle. Ok, ok, so maybe this wasn't meant to be analyzed with such scrutiny, but I can't shake that this could've gone a little different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite this nitpicking, the brief ceremony is a delight. It peppers in clever phrases from <em>Frozen<\/em>'s script throughout its dialogue and includes pleasant orchestral versions of <em>Frozen<\/em> songs and Christmas tunes alike in what is basically an eight minutes of stalled anticipation for the lights to follow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The spectacle itself is still the same as it's always been since 2007. The lights are no different, and are beautiful as ever. Simply the \"turning on\" ceremony each night is now void of Cinderella. Will Elsa be convicted of trespassing charges this year?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Live-Hyperion.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Live-Hyperion\" class=\"wp-image-54651\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>3) <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em><br>Disney California Adventure (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If <em>A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/em> at Disney's Hollywood Studios swerves expectations in an underwhelming (yet endearingly quirky) way, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> at Disney California Adventure swerves expectations in an overwhelming way. It's practically a mini Broadway musical, clocking in at 55 minutes and with the costuming and production value of anything you'd hope to find in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, in the performance I attended, most of the jokes were met with minimal laughter. It would stand to reason that as many times audiences in the room have seen <em>Frozen<\/em> over and over, hearing the same jokes simply aren't funny anymore. However, this could've just been the show I was at and not a common issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though it's nearly flawless, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> holds a sour reputation among some for replacing the phenomenal <em>Aladdin \u2014<\/em> <em>A Musical Spectacular<\/em>, which had performed in this space since 2003 and <strong>did<\/strong> vary up its script with different material and even topical jokes for Genie based on current events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tokyo-Disneyland-Frozen-Fantasy.png\" alt=\"Anna-Elsa-Frozen-Fantasy-Tokyo-Disneyland\" class=\"wp-image-54652\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>2) <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy<\/em><\/strong><br><strong>Tokyo Disneyland (2015-2018<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Imagine <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> from Disney's Hollywood Studios on steroids. Or, perhaps more realistically, with a much bigger budget. That's what <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy <\/em>was at Tokyo Disneyland. This was a seasonal Frozen festival on a grand scale that honestly put Hollywood Studios to shame. With a stronger parade, more park-wide activities, and more impressive fireworks, this celebration lasted four years, with its final season ending last year in 2018. Its big claim to fame? This was the only place in any Disney park to date where you could see Prince Hans.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Ever-After.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Ever-After-Epcot\" class=\"wp-image-54653\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>1.) <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Out this entire list, this is the only item to be a ride. Everything else is some form of live entertainment. Because of the investment and longevity that comes with building a permanent ride as well as the trajectory of influence this particular ride set into motion, it makes the top of our countdown as #1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frozen Ever After is a boat ride taking place after the events of <em>Frozen<\/em>. It's \"winter in summer\" day, celebrating the day on the calendar that Anna saved Elsa with an act of true love. To commemorate, we're invited to take a boat tour of Arendelle. Along the way, we see plenty of familiar faces and even hear a few familiar tunes. This structure is unique from most classic Disney rides of this same style in that <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> doesn't simply retell the events from <em>Frozen<\/em>, though the nature of it is so similar that if you're not paying close attention, you might think it does that anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With stellar Audio-Animatronics figures and even a bit of thrill, <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> is one of Epcot's best attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The context surrounding the ride is particularly curious, though. It replaced <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, a longstanding ride celebrating Norwegian culture. Despite being located within the Norway pavilion and even using the same track layout as <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, <em>Frozen Ever After <\/em>doesn't even try to work in Norwegian heritage into its narrative. At first, this seemed to be a departure of form for Epcot. Now that we're a few years after its opening and we know what Disney's building next, though, the ride was actually a taste of a new era for Epcot, one less occupied with education and more focused on characters. Future attractions will bring <em>Ratatouille<\/em> to the France pavilion and <em>Mary Poppins<\/em> to the United Kingdom pavilion. Elsewhere in the park, a <em>Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em> roller coaster will open (though that, at least, has been promised to include educational value somewhere within it). Whether this new direction for Epcot is exciting or apocalyptic depends on who you ask, but the park is for certain in the middle of a transformation toward a new version of itself, and one might point the beginning of that transformation back to Frozen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen-1024x401.png\" alt=\"Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54654\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It should come as no surprise that, now being an established staple of the Disney fold, Frozen is continuing to be used, perhaps now even more than ever. Following Epcot's lead, multiple permanent attractions are currently in development for Disney theme parks around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<p>Upon <em>Frozen<\/em>'s success, the writing was on the wall. This was low-hanging fruit. This was handed to Disney on a silver platter in a way that they'd be silly to neglect. Elsa had icy powers. This was the resort's iconic structure that turned to ice every Christmas season. It made sense for Elsa to now be included in the annual event. The way in which she was included, though, could have been handled a bit differently, in my opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Turns out, Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf are visiting this kingdom for the holidays. (They sure do visit neighboring kingdoms often, huh?) They remark about how beautiful the decorations are everywhere, but notice that the castle is missing decor. \"Elsa!\" Anna exclaims. \"Wouldn't it be great if you used your frozen fractiley powers to cover the castle in ice and snow?!\" Elsa replies, \"Anna, I'd love to, but I can't. This isn't our home. We're just visiting and we have to be respectful to the people who live here.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That seems like a perfect cue for the person who DOES live here, right? Instead of Cinderella appearing and giving her blessing, though, Anna literally has the guests peer pressure Elsa into making graffiti on the castle. Ok, ok, so maybe this wasn't meant to be analyzed with such scrutiny, but I can't shake that this could've gone a little different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite this nitpicking, the brief ceremony is a delight. It peppers in clever phrases from <em>Frozen<\/em>'s script throughout its dialogue and includes pleasant orchestral versions of <em>Frozen<\/em> songs and Christmas tunes alike in what is basically an eight minutes of stalled anticipation for the lights to follow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The spectacle itself is still the same as it's always been since 2007. The lights are no different, and are beautiful as ever. Simply the \"turning on\" ceremony each night is now void of Cinderella. Will Elsa be convicted of trespassing charges this year?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Live-Hyperion.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Live-Hyperion\" class=\"wp-image-54651\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>3) <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em><br>Disney California Adventure (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If <em>A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/em> at Disney's Hollywood Studios swerves expectations in an underwhelming (yet endearingly quirky) way, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> at Disney California Adventure swerves expectations in an overwhelming way. It's practically a mini Broadway musical, clocking in at 55 minutes and with the costuming and production value of anything you'd hope to find in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, in the performance I attended, most of the jokes were met with minimal laughter. It would stand to reason that as many times audiences in the room have seen <em>Frozen<\/em> over and over, hearing the same jokes simply aren't funny anymore. However, this could've just been the show I was at and not a common issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though it's nearly flawless, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> holds a sour reputation among some for replacing the phenomenal <em>Aladdin \u2014<\/em> <em>A Musical Spectacular<\/em>, which had performed in this space since 2003 and <strong>did<\/strong> vary up its script with different material and even topical jokes for Genie based on current events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tokyo-Disneyland-Frozen-Fantasy.png\" alt=\"Anna-Elsa-Frozen-Fantasy-Tokyo-Disneyland\" class=\"wp-image-54652\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>2) <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy<\/em><\/strong><br><strong>Tokyo Disneyland (2015-2018<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Imagine <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> from Disney's Hollywood Studios on steroids. Or, perhaps more realistically, with a much bigger budget. That's what <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy <\/em>was at Tokyo Disneyland. This was a seasonal Frozen festival on a grand scale that honestly put Hollywood Studios to shame. With a stronger parade, more park-wide activities, and more impressive fireworks, this celebration lasted four years, with its final season ending last year in 2018. Its big claim to fame? This was the only place in any Disney park to date where you could see Prince Hans.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Ever-After.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Ever-After-Epcot\" class=\"wp-image-54653\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>1.) <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Out this entire list, this is the only item to be a ride. Everything else is some form of live entertainment. Because of the investment and longevity that comes with building a permanent ride as well as the trajectory of influence this particular ride set into motion, it makes the top of our countdown as #1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frozen Ever After is a boat ride taking place after the events of <em>Frozen<\/em>. It's \"winter in summer\" day, celebrating the day on the calendar that Anna saved Elsa with an act of true love. To commemorate, we're invited to take a boat tour of Arendelle. Along the way, we see plenty of familiar faces and even hear a few familiar tunes. This structure is unique from most classic Disney rides of this same style in that <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> doesn't simply retell the events from <em>Frozen<\/em>, though the nature of it is so similar that if you're not paying close attention, you might think it does that anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With stellar Audio-Animatronics figures and even a bit of thrill, <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> is one of Epcot's best attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The context surrounding the ride is particularly curious, though. It replaced <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, a longstanding ride celebrating Norwegian culture. Despite being located within the Norway pavilion and even using the same track layout as <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, <em>Frozen Ever After <\/em>doesn't even try to work in Norwegian heritage into its narrative. At first, this seemed to be a departure of form for Epcot. Now that we're a few years after its opening and we know what Disney's building next, though, the ride was actually a taste of a new era for Epcot, one less occupied with education and more focused on characters. Future attractions will bring <em>Ratatouille<\/em> to the France pavilion and <em>Mary Poppins<\/em> to the United Kingdom pavilion. Elsewhere in the park, a <em>Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em> roller coaster will open (though that, at least, has been promised to include educational value somewhere within it). Whether this new direction for Epcot is exciting or apocalyptic depends on who you ask, but the park is for certain in the middle of a transformation toward a new version of itself, and one might point the beginning of that transformation back to Frozen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen-1024x401.png\" alt=\"Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54654\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It should come as no surprise that, now being an established staple of the Disney fold, Frozen is continuing to be used, perhaps now even more than ever. Following Epcot's lead, multiple permanent attractions are currently in development for Disney theme parks around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<p>Beginning in 2007, Disney adorned Cinderella Castle each Christmas season with gorgeous icicle lights. Photos don't do them justice. They're breathtaking. Every night, the lights would magically turn on for the evening with the help of Cinderella and her Fairy Godmother. This is, after all, Cinderella's home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon <em>Frozen<\/em>'s success, the writing was on the wall. This was low-hanging fruit. This was handed to Disney on a silver platter in a way that they'd be silly to neglect. Elsa had icy powers. This was the resort's iconic structure that turned to ice every Christmas season. It made sense for Elsa to now be included in the annual event. The way in which she was included, though, could have been handled a bit differently, in my opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Turns out, Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf are visiting this kingdom for the holidays. (They sure do visit neighboring kingdoms often, huh?) They remark about how beautiful the decorations are everywhere, but notice that the castle is missing decor. \"Elsa!\" Anna exclaims. \"Wouldn't it be great if you used your frozen fractiley powers to cover the castle in ice and snow?!\" Elsa replies, \"Anna, I'd love to, but I can't. This isn't our home. We're just visiting and we have to be respectful to the people who live here.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That seems like a perfect cue for the person who DOES live here, right? Instead of Cinderella appearing and giving her blessing, though, Anna literally has the guests peer pressure Elsa into making graffiti on the castle. Ok, ok, so maybe this wasn't meant to be analyzed with such scrutiny, but I can't shake that this could've gone a little different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite this nitpicking, the brief ceremony is a delight. It peppers in clever phrases from <em>Frozen<\/em>'s script throughout its dialogue and includes pleasant orchestral versions of <em>Frozen<\/em> songs and Christmas tunes alike in what is basically an eight minutes of stalled anticipation for the lights to follow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The spectacle itself is still the same as it's always been since 2007. The lights are no different, and are beautiful as ever. Simply the \"turning on\" ceremony each night is now void of Cinderella. Will Elsa be convicted of trespassing charges this year?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Live-Hyperion.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Live-Hyperion\" class=\"wp-image-54651\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>3) <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em><br>Disney California Adventure (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If <em>A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/em> at Disney's Hollywood Studios swerves expectations in an underwhelming (yet endearingly quirky) way, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> at Disney California Adventure swerves expectations in an overwhelming way. It's practically a mini Broadway musical, clocking in at 55 minutes and with the costuming and production value of anything you'd hope to find in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, in the performance I attended, most of the jokes were met with minimal laughter. It would stand to reason that as many times audiences in the room have seen <em>Frozen<\/em> over and over, hearing the same jokes simply aren't funny anymore. However, this could've just been the show I was at and not a common issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though it's nearly flawless, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> holds a sour reputation among some for replacing the phenomenal <em>Aladdin \u2014<\/em> <em>A Musical Spectacular<\/em>, which had performed in this space since 2003 and <strong>did<\/strong> vary up its script with different material and even topical jokes for Genie based on current events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tokyo-Disneyland-Frozen-Fantasy.png\" alt=\"Anna-Elsa-Frozen-Fantasy-Tokyo-Disneyland\" class=\"wp-image-54652\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>2) <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy<\/em><\/strong><br><strong>Tokyo Disneyland (2015-2018<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Imagine <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> from Disney's Hollywood Studios on steroids. Or, perhaps more realistically, with a much bigger budget. That's what <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy <\/em>was at Tokyo Disneyland. This was a seasonal Frozen festival on a grand scale that honestly put Hollywood Studios to shame. With a stronger parade, more park-wide activities, and more impressive fireworks, this celebration lasted four years, with its final season ending last year in 2018. Its big claim to fame? This was the only place in any Disney park to date where you could see Prince Hans.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Ever-After.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Ever-After-Epcot\" class=\"wp-image-54653\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>1.) <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Out this entire list, this is the only item to be a ride. Everything else is some form of live entertainment. Because of the investment and longevity that comes with building a permanent ride as well as the trajectory of influence this particular ride set into motion, it makes the top of our countdown as #1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frozen Ever After is a boat ride taking place after the events of <em>Frozen<\/em>. It's \"winter in summer\" day, celebrating the day on the calendar that Anna saved Elsa with an act of true love. To commemorate, we're invited to take a boat tour of Arendelle. Along the way, we see plenty of familiar faces and even hear a few familiar tunes. This structure is unique from most classic Disney rides of this same style in that <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> doesn't simply retell the events from <em>Frozen<\/em>, though the nature of it is so similar that if you're not paying close attention, you might think it does that anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With stellar Audio-Animatronics figures and even a bit of thrill, <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> is one of Epcot's best attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The context surrounding the ride is particularly curious, though. It replaced <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, a longstanding ride celebrating Norwegian culture. Despite being located within the Norway pavilion and even using the same track layout as <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, <em>Frozen Ever After <\/em>doesn't even try to work in Norwegian heritage into its narrative. At first, this seemed to be a departure of form for Epcot. Now that we're a few years after its opening and we know what Disney's building next, though, the ride was actually a taste of a new era for Epcot, one less occupied with education and more focused on characters. Future attractions will bring <em>Ratatouille<\/em> to the France pavilion and <em>Mary Poppins<\/em> to the United Kingdom pavilion. Elsewhere in the park, a <em>Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em> roller coaster will open (though that, at least, has been promised to include educational value somewhere within it). Whether this new direction for Epcot is exciting or apocalyptic depends on who you ask, but the park is for certain in the middle of a transformation toward a new version of itself, and one might point the beginning of that transformation back to Frozen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen-1024x401.png\" alt=\"Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54654\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It should come as no surprise that, now being an established staple of the Disney fold, Frozen is continuing to be used, perhaps now even more than ever. Following Epcot's lead, multiple permanent attractions are currently in development for Disney theme parks around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<p>Remember when I said <em>Frozen<\/em> sometimes displaced things? Yeeeaaaahhh. Buckle up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beginning in 2007, Disney adorned Cinderella Castle each Christmas season with gorgeous icicle lights. Photos don't do them justice. They're breathtaking. Every night, the lights would magically turn on for the evening with the help of Cinderella and her Fairy Godmother. This is, after all, Cinderella's home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon <em>Frozen<\/em>'s success, the writing was on the wall. This was low-hanging fruit. This was handed to Disney on a silver platter in a way that they'd be silly to neglect. Elsa had icy powers. This was the resort's iconic structure that turned to ice every Christmas season. It made sense for Elsa to now be included in the annual event. The way in which she was included, though, could have been handled a bit differently, in my opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Turns out, Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf are visiting this kingdom for the holidays. (They sure do visit neighboring kingdoms often, huh?) They remark about how beautiful the decorations are everywhere, but notice that the castle is missing decor. \"Elsa!\" Anna exclaims. \"Wouldn't it be great if you used your frozen fractiley powers to cover the castle in ice and snow?!\" Elsa replies, \"Anna, I'd love to, but I can't. This isn't our home. We're just visiting and we have to be respectful to the people who live here.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That seems like a perfect cue for the person who DOES live here, right? Instead of Cinderella appearing and giving her blessing, though, Anna literally has the guests peer pressure Elsa into making graffiti on the castle. Ok, ok, so maybe this wasn't meant to be analyzed with such scrutiny, but I can't shake that this could've gone a little different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite this nitpicking, the brief ceremony is a delight. It peppers in clever phrases from <em>Frozen<\/em>'s script throughout its dialogue and includes pleasant orchestral versions of <em>Frozen<\/em> songs and Christmas tunes alike in what is basically an eight minutes of stalled anticipation for the lights to follow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The spectacle itself is still the same as it's always been since 2007. The lights are no different, and are beautiful as ever. Simply the \"turning on\" ceremony each night is now void of Cinderella. Will Elsa be convicted of trespassing charges this year?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Live-Hyperion.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Live-Hyperion\" class=\"wp-image-54651\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>3) <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em><br>Disney California Adventure (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If <em>A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/em> at Disney's Hollywood Studios swerves expectations in an underwhelming (yet endearingly quirky) way, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> at Disney California Adventure swerves expectations in an overwhelming way. It's practically a mini Broadway musical, clocking in at 55 minutes and with the costuming and production value of anything you'd hope to find in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, in the performance I attended, most of the jokes were met with minimal laughter. It would stand to reason that as many times audiences in the room have seen <em>Frozen<\/em> over and over, hearing the same jokes simply aren't funny anymore. However, this could've just been the show I was at and not a common issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though it's nearly flawless, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> holds a sour reputation among some for replacing the phenomenal <em>Aladdin \u2014<\/em> <em>A Musical Spectacular<\/em>, which had performed in this space since 2003 and <strong>did<\/strong> vary up its script with different material and even topical jokes for Genie based on current events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tokyo-Disneyland-Frozen-Fantasy.png\" alt=\"Anna-Elsa-Frozen-Fantasy-Tokyo-Disneyland\" class=\"wp-image-54652\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>2) <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy<\/em><\/strong><br><strong>Tokyo Disneyland (2015-2018<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Imagine <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> from Disney's Hollywood Studios on steroids. Or, perhaps more realistically, with a much bigger budget. That's what <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy <\/em>was at Tokyo Disneyland. This was a seasonal Frozen festival on a grand scale that honestly put Hollywood Studios to shame. With a stronger parade, more park-wide activities, and more impressive fireworks, this celebration lasted four years, with its final season ending last year in 2018. Its big claim to fame? This was the only place in any Disney park to date where you could see Prince Hans.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Ever-After.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Ever-After-Epcot\" class=\"wp-image-54653\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>1.) <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Out this entire list, this is the only item to be a ride. Everything else is some form of live entertainment. Because of the investment and longevity that comes with building a permanent ride as well as the trajectory of influence this particular ride set into motion, it makes the top of our countdown as #1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frozen Ever After is a boat ride taking place after the events of <em>Frozen<\/em>. It's \"winter in summer\" day, celebrating the day on the calendar that Anna saved Elsa with an act of true love. To commemorate, we're invited to take a boat tour of Arendelle. Along the way, we see plenty of familiar faces and even hear a few familiar tunes. This structure is unique from most classic Disney rides of this same style in that <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> doesn't simply retell the events from <em>Frozen<\/em>, though the nature of it is so similar that if you're not paying close attention, you might think it does that anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With stellar Audio-Animatronics figures and even a bit of thrill, <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> is one of Epcot's best attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The context surrounding the ride is particularly curious, though. It replaced <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, a longstanding ride celebrating Norwegian culture. Despite being located within the Norway pavilion and even using the same track layout as <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, <em>Frozen Ever After <\/em>doesn't even try to work in Norwegian heritage into its narrative. At first, this seemed to be a departure of form for Epcot. Now that we're a few years after its opening and we know what Disney's building next, though, the ride was actually a taste of a new era for Epcot, one less occupied with education and more focused on characters. Future attractions will bring <em>Ratatouille<\/em> to the France pavilion and <em>Mary Poppins<\/em> to the United Kingdom pavilion. Elsewhere in the park, a <em>Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em> roller coaster will open (though that, at least, has been promised to include educational value somewhere within it). Whether this new direction for Epcot is exciting or apocalyptic depends on who you ask, but the park is for certain in the middle of a transformation toward a new version of itself, and one might point the beginning of that transformation back to Frozen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen-1024x401.png\" alt=\"Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54654\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It should come as no surprise that, now being an established staple of the Disney fold, Frozen is continuing to be used, perhaps now even more than ever. Following Epcot's lead, multiple permanent attractions are currently in development for Disney theme parks around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<h2><strong>4) <em>A Frozen Holiday Wish<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2014-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember when I said <em>Frozen<\/em> sometimes displaced things? Yeeeaaaahhh. Buckle up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beginning in 2007, Disney adorned Cinderella Castle each Christmas season with gorgeous icicle lights. Photos don't do them justice. They're breathtaking. Every night, the lights would magically turn on for the evening with the help of Cinderella and her Fairy Godmother. This is, after all, Cinderella's home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon <em>Frozen<\/em>'s success, the writing was on the wall. This was low-hanging fruit. This was handed to Disney on a silver platter in a way that they'd be silly to neglect. Elsa had icy powers. This was the resort's iconic structure that turned to ice every Christmas season. It made sense for Elsa to now be included in the annual event. The way in which she was included, though, could have been handled a bit differently, in my opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Turns out, Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf are visiting this kingdom for the holidays. (They sure do visit neighboring kingdoms often, huh?) They remark about how beautiful the decorations are everywhere, but notice that the castle is missing decor. \"Elsa!\" Anna exclaims. \"Wouldn't it be great if you used your frozen fractiley powers to cover the castle in ice and snow?!\" Elsa replies, \"Anna, I'd love to, but I can't. This isn't our home. We're just visiting and we have to be respectful to the people who live here.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That seems like a perfect cue for the person who DOES live here, right? Instead of Cinderella appearing and giving her blessing, though, Anna literally has the guests peer pressure Elsa into making graffiti on the castle. Ok, ok, so maybe this wasn't meant to be analyzed with such scrutiny, but I can't shake that this could've gone a little different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite this nitpicking, the brief ceremony is a delight. It peppers in clever phrases from <em>Frozen<\/em>'s script throughout its dialogue and includes pleasant orchestral versions of <em>Frozen<\/em> songs and Christmas tunes alike in what is basically an eight minutes of stalled anticipation for the lights to follow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The spectacle itself is still the same as it's always been since 2007. The lights are no different, and are beautiful as ever. Simply the \"turning on\" ceremony each night is now void of Cinderella. Will Elsa be convicted of trespassing charges this year?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Live-Hyperion.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Live-Hyperion\" class=\"wp-image-54651\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>3) <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em><br>Disney California Adventure (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If <em>A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/em> at Disney's Hollywood Studios swerves expectations in an underwhelming (yet endearingly quirky) way, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> at Disney California Adventure swerves expectations in an overwhelming way. It's practically a mini Broadway musical, clocking in at 55 minutes and with the costuming and production value of anything you'd hope to find in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, in the performance I attended, most of the jokes were met with minimal laughter. It would stand to reason that as many times audiences in the room have seen <em>Frozen<\/em> over and over, hearing the same jokes simply aren't funny anymore. However, this could've just been the show I was at and not a common issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though it's nearly flawless, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> holds a sour reputation among some for replacing the phenomenal <em>Aladdin \u2014<\/em> <em>A Musical Spectacular<\/em>, which had performed in this space since 2003 and <strong>did<\/strong> vary up its script with different material and even topical jokes for Genie based on current events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tokyo-Disneyland-Frozen-Fantasy.png\" alt=\"Anna-Elsa-Frozen-Fantasy-Tokyo-Disneyland\" class=\"wp-image-54652\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>2) <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy<\/em><\/strong><br><strong>Tokyo Disneyland (2015-2018<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Imagine <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> from Disney's Hollywood Studios on steroids. Or, perhaps more realistically, with a much bigger budget. That's what <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy <\/em>was at Tokyo Disneyland. This was a seasonal Frozen festival on a grand scale that honestly put Hollywood Studios to shame. With a stronger parade, more park-wide activities, and more impressive fireworks, this celebration lasted four years, with its final season ending last year in 2018. Its big claim to fame? This was the only place in any Disney park to date where you could see Prince Hans.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Ever-After.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Ever-After-Epcot\" class=\"wp-image-54653\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>1.) <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Out this entire list, this is the only item to be a ride. Everything else is some form of live entertainment. Because of the investment and longevity that comes with building a permanent ride as well as the trajectory of influence this particular ride set into motion, it makes the top of our countdown as #1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frozen Ever After is a boat ride taking place after the events of <em>Frozen<\/em>. It's \"winter in summer\" day, celebrating the day on the calendar that Anna saved Elsa with an act of true love. To commemorate, we're invited to take a boat tour of Arendelle. Along the way, we see plenty of familiar faces and even hear a few familiar tunes. This structure is unique from most classic Disney rides of this same style in that <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> doesn't simply retell the events from <em>Frozen<\/em>, though the nature of it is so similar that if you're not paying close attention, you might think it does that anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With stellar Audio-Animatronics figures and even a bit of thrill, <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> is one of Epcot's best attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The context surrounding the ride is particularly curious, though. It replaced <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, a longstanding ride celebrating Norwegian culture. Despite being located within the Norway pavilion and even using the same track layout as <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, <em>Frozen Ever After <\/em>doesn't even try to work in Norwegian heritage into its narrative. At first, this seemed to be a departure of form for Epcot. Now that we're a few years after its opening and we know what Disney's building next, though, the ride was actually a taste of a new era for Epcot, one less occupied with education and more focused on characters. Future attractions will bring <em>Ratatouille<\/em> to the France pavilion and <em>Mary Poppins<\/em> to the United Kingdom pavilion. Elsewhere in the park, a <em>Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em> roller coaster will open (though that, at least, has been promised to include educational value somewhere within it). Whether this new direction for Epcot is exciting or apocalyptic depends on who you ask, but the park is for certain in the middle of a transformation toward a new version of itself, and one might point the beginning of that transformation back to Frozen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen-1024x401.png\" alt=\"Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54654\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It should come as no surprise that, now being an established staple of the Disney fold, Frozen is continuing to be used, perhaps now even more than ever. Following Epcot's lead, multiple permanent attractions are currently in development for Disney theme parks around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Frozen-Holiday-Wish.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Holiday-Wish-Magic-Kingdom\" class=\"wp-image-21933\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>4) <em>A Frozen Holiday Wish<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2014-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember when I said <em>Frozen<\/em> sometimes displaced things? Yeeeaaaahhh. Buckle up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beginning in 2007, Disney adorned Cinderella Castle each Christmas season with gorgeous icicle lights. Photos don't do them justice. They're breathtaking. Every night, the lights would magically turn on for the evening with the help of Cinderella and her Fairy Godmother. This is, after all, Cinderella's home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon <em>Frozen<\/em>'s success, the writing was on the wall. This was low-hanging fruit. This was handed to Disney on a silver platter in a way that they'd be silly to neglect. Elsa had icy powers. This was the resort's iconic structure that turned to ice every Christmas season. It made sense for Elsa to now be included in the annual event. The way in which she was included, though, could have been handled a bit differently, in my opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Turns out, Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf are visiting this kingdom for the holidays. (They sure do visit neighboring kingdoms often, huh?) They remark about how beautiful the decorations are everywhere, but notice that the castle is missing decor. \"Elsa!\" Anna exclaims. \"Wouldn't it be great if you used your frozen fractiley powers to cover the castle in ice and snow?!\" Elsa replies, \"Anna, I'd love to, but I can't. This isn't our home. We're just visiting and we have to be respectful to the people who live here.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That seems like a perfect cue for the person who DOES live here, right? Instead of Cinderella appearing and giving her blessing, though, Anna literally has the guests peer pressure Elsa into making graffiti on the castle. Ok, ok, so maybe this wasn't meant to be analyzed with such scrutiny, but I can't shake that this could've gone a little different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite this nitpicking, the brief ceremony is a delight. It peppers in clever phrases from <em>Frozen<\/em>'s script throughout its dialogue and includes pleasant orchestral versions of <em>Frozen<\/em> songs and Christmas tunes alike in what is basically an eight minutes of stalled anticipation for the lights to follow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The spectacle itself is still the same as it's always been since 2007. The lights are no different, and are beautiful as ever. Simply the \"turning on\" ceremony each night is now void of Cinderella. Will Elsa be convicted of trespassing charges this year?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Live-Hyperion.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Live-Hyperion\" class=\"wp-image-54651\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>3) <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em><br>Disney California Adventure (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If <em>A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/em> at Disney's Hollywood Studios swerves expectations in an underwhelming (yet endearingly quirky) way, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> at Disney California Adventure swerves expectations in an overwhelming way. It's practically a mini Broadway musical, clocking in at 55 minutes and with the costuming and production value of anything you'd hope to find in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, in the performance I attended, most of the jokes were met with minimal laughter. It would stand to reason that as many times audiences in the room have seen <em>Frozen<\/em> over and over, hearing the same jokes simply aren't funny anymore. However, this could've just been the show I was at and not a common issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though it's nearly flawless, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> holds a sour reputation among some for replacing the phenomenal <em>Aladdin \u2014<\/em> <em>A Musical Spectacular<\/em>, which had performed in this space since 2003 and <strong>did<\/strong> vary up its script with different material and even topical jokes for Genie based on current events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tokyo-Disneyland-Frozen-Fantasy.png\" alt=\"Anna-Elsa-Frozen-Fantasy-Tokyo-Disneyland\" class=\"wp-image-54652\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>2) <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy<\/em><\/strong><br><strong>Tokyo Disneyland (2015-2018<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Imagine <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> from Disney's Hollywood Studios on steroids. Or, perhaps more realistically, with a much bigger budget. That's what <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy <\/em>was at Tokyo Disneyland. This was a seasonal Frozen festival on a grand scale that honestly put Hollywood Studios to shame. With a stronger parade, more park-wide activities, and more impressive fireworks, this celebration lasted four years, with its final season ending last year in 2018. Its big claim to fame? This was the only place in any Disney park to date where you could see Prince Hans.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Ever-After.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Ever-After-Epcot\" class=\"wp-image-54653\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>1.) <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Out this entire list, this is the only item to be a ride. Everything else is some form of live entertainment. Because of the investment and longevity that comes with building a permanent ride as well as the trajectory of influence this particular ride set into motion, it makes the top of our countdown as #1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frozen Ever After is a boat ride taking place after the events of <em>Frozen<\/em>. It's \"winter in summer\" day, celebrating the day on the calendar that Anna saved Elsa with an act of true love. To commemorate, we're invited to take a boat tour of Arendelle. Along the way, we see plenty of familiar faces and even hear a few familiar tunes. This structure is unique from most classic Disney rides of this same style in that <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> doesn't simply retell the events from <em>Frozen<\/em>, though the nature of it is so similar that if you're not paying close attention, you might think it does that anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With stellar Audio-Animatronics figures and even a bit of thrill, <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> is one of Epcot's best attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The context surrounding the ride is particularly curious, though. It replaced <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, a longstanding ride celebrating Norwegian culture. Despite being located within the Norway pavilion and even using the same track layout as <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, <em>Frozen Ever After <\/em>doesn't even try to work in Norwegian heritage into its narrative. At first, this seemed to be a departure of form for Epcot. Now that we're a few years after its opening and we know what Disney's building next, though, the ride was actually a taste of a new era for Epcot, one less occupied with education and more focused on characters. Future attractions will bring <em>Ratatouille<\/em> to the France pavilion and <em>Mary Poppins<\/em> to the United Kingdom pavilion. Elsewhere in the park, a <em>Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em> roller coaster will open (though that, at least, has been promised to include educational value somewhere within it). Whether this new direction for Epcot is exciting or apocalyptic depends on who you ask, but the park is for certain in the middle of a transformation toward a new version of itself, and one might point the beginning of that transformation back to Frozen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen-1024x401.png\" alt=\"Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54654\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It should come as no surprise that, now being an established staple of the Disney fold, Frozen is continuing to be used, perhaps now even more than ever. Following Epcot's lead, multiple permanent attractions are currently in development for Disney theme parks around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<p>In California, this show replaced <em>MuppetVision 3D<\/em>, but didn't last long. It closed when <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em>, a much grander production, opened in 2016. The theater where the sing-along was held was a preview center for new Disney films for a few years. Today, it presents <em>Mickey's PhilharMagic<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Frozen-Holiday-Wish.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Holiday-Wish-Magic-Kingdom\" class=\"wp-image-21933\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>4) <em>A Frozen Holiday Wish<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2014-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember when I said <em>Frozen<\/em> sometimes displaced things? Yeeeaaaahhh. Buckle up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beginning in 2007, Disney adorned Cinderella Castle each Christmas season with gorgeous icicle lights. Photos don't do them justice. They're breathtaking. Every night, the lights would magically turn on for the evening with the help of Cinderella and her Fairy Godmother. This is, after all, Cinderella's home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon <em>Frozen<\/em>'s success, the writing was on the wall. This was low-hanging fruit. This was handed to Disney on a silver platter in a way that they'd be silly to neglect. Elsa had icy powers. This was the resort's iconic structure that turned to ice every Christmas season. It made sense for Elsa to now be included in the annual event. The way in which she was included, though, could have been handled a bit differently, in my opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Turns out, Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf are visiting this kingdom for the holidays. (They sure do visit neighboring kingdoms often, huh?) They remark about how beautiful the decorations are everywhere, but notice that the castle is missing decor. \"Elsa!\" Anna exclaims. \"Wouldn't it be great if you used your frozen fractiley powers to cover the castle in ice and snow?!\" Elsa replies, \"Anna, I'd love to, but I can't. This isn't our home. We're just visiting and we have to be respectful to the people who live here.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That seems like a perfect cue for the person who DOES live here, right? Instead of Cinderella appearing and giving her blessing, though, Anna literally has the guests peer pressure Elsa into making graffiti on the castle. Ok, ok, so maybe this wasn't meant to be analyzed with such scrutiny, but I can't shake that this could've gone a little different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite this nitpicking, the brief ceremony is a delight. It peppers in clever phrases from <em>Frozen<\/em>'s script throughout its dialogue and includes pleasant orchestral versions of <em>Frozen<\/em> songs and Christmas tunes alike in what is basically an eight minutes of stalled anticipation for the lights to follow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The spectacle itself is still the same as it's always been since 2007. The lights are no different, and are beautiful as ever. Simply the \"turning on\" ceremony each night is now void of Cinderella. Will Elsa be convicted of trespassing charges this year?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Live-Hyperion.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Live-Hyperion\" class=\"wp-image-54651\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>3) <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em><br>Disney California Adventure (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If <em>A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/em> at Disney's Hollywood Studios swerves expectations in an underwhelming (yet endearingly quirky) way, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> at Disney California Adventure swerves expectations in an overwhelming way. It's practically a mini Broadway musical, clocking in at 55 minutes and with the costuming and production value of anything you'd hope to find in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, in the performance I attended, most of the jokes were met with minimal laughter. It would stand to reason that as many times audiences in the room have seen <em>Frozen<\/em> over and over, hearing the same jokes simply aren't funny anymore. However, this could've just been the show I was at and not a common issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though it's nearly flawless, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> holds a sour reputation among some for replacing the phenomenal <em>Aladdin \u2014<\/em> <em>A Musical Spectacular<\/em>, which had performed in this space since 2003 and <strong>did<\/strong> vary up its script with different material and even topical jokes for Genie based on current events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tokyo-Disneyland-Frozen-Fantasy.png\" alt=\"Anna-Elsa-Frozen-Fantasy-Tokyo-Disneyland\" class=\"wp-image-54652\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>2) <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy<\/em><\/strong><br><strong>Tokyo Disneyland (2015-2018<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Imagine <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> from Disney's Hollywood Studios on steroids. Or, perhaps more realistically, with a much bigger budget. That's what <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy <\/em>was at Tokyo Disneyland. This was a seasonal Frozen festival on a grand scale that honestly put Hollywood Studios to shame. With a stronger parade, more park-wide activities, and more impressive fireworks, this celebration lasted four years, with its final season ending last year in 2018. Its big claim to fame? This was the only place in any Disney park to date where you could see Prince Hans.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Ever-After.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Ever-After-Epcot\" class=\"wp-image-54653\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>1.) <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Out this entire list, this is the only item to be a ride. Everything else is some form of live entertainment. Because of the investment and longevity that comes with building a permanent ride as well as the trajectory of influence this particular ride set into motion, it makes the top of our countdown as #1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frozen Ever After is a boat ride taking place after the events of <em>Frozen<\/em>. It's \"winter in summer\" day, celebrating the day on the calendar that Anna saved Elsa with an act of true love. To commemorate, we're invited to take a boat tour of Arendelle. Along the way, we see plenty of familiar faces and even hear a few familiar tunes. This structure is unique from most classic Disney rides of this same style in that <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> doesn't simply retell the events from <em>Frozen<\/em>, though the nature of it is so similar that if you're not paying close attention, you might think it does that anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With stellar Audio-Animatronics figures and even a bit of thrill, <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> is one of Epcot's best attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The context surrounding the ride is particularly curious, though. It replaced <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, a longstanding ride celebrating Norwegian culture. Despite being located within the Norway pavilion and even using the same track layout as <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, <em>Frozen Ever After <\/em>doesn't even try to work in Norwegian heritage into its narrative. At first, this seemed to be a departure of form for Epcot. Now that we're a few years after its opening and we know what Disney's building next, though, the ride was actually a taste of a new era for Epcot, one less occupied with education and more focused on characters. Future attractions will bring <em>Ratatouille<\/em> to the France pavilion and <em>Mary Poppins<\/em> to the United Kingdom pavilion. Elsewhere in the park, a <em>Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em> roller coaster will open (though that, at least, has been promised to include educational value somewhere within it). Whether this new direction for Epcot is exciting or apocalyptic depends on who you ask, but the park is for certain in the middle of a transformation toward a new version of itself, and one might point the beginning of that transformation back to Frozen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen-1024x401.png\" alt=\"Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54654\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It should come as no surprise that, now being an established staple of the Disney fold, Frozen is continuing to be used, perhaps now even more than ever. Following Epcot's lead, multiple permanent attractions are currently in development for Disney theme parks around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why* it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<p>That being said, the premise on paper sounds a lot more boring than the captivating presentation that ensues in person. The sing-along aspect is fun. The narrators are hilarious. The informal nature of the proceedings help us relax a bit; we needn't be on our best behavior as with most \"shows.\" While some may have expected or even preferred a more traditional musical or find it lazy to seemingly pop in a DVD and press play, there's still value in the uniqueness of what happens here if you're willing to let yourself get as excited about it as the narrators are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In California, this show replaced <em>MuppetVision 3D<\/em>, but didn't last long. It closed when <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em>, a much grander production, opened in 2016. The theater where the sing-along was held was a preview center for new Disney films for a few years. Today, it presents <em>Mickey's PhilharMagic<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Frozen-Holiday-Wish.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Holiday-Wish-Magic-Kingdom\" class=\"wp-image-21933\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>4) <em>A Frozen Holiday Wish<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2014-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember when I said <em>Frozen<\/em> sometimes displaced things? Yeeeaaaahhh. Buckle up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beginning in 2007, Disney adorned Cinderella Castle each Christmas season with gorgeous icicle lights. Photos don't do them justice. They're breathtaking. Every night, the lights would magically turn on for the evening with the help of Cinderella and her Fairy Godmother. This is, after all, Cinderella's home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon <em>Frozen<\/em>'s success, the writing was on the wall. This was low-hanging fruit. This was handed to Disney on a silver platter in a way that they'd be silly to neglect. Elsa had icy powers. This was the resort's iconic structure that turned to ice every Christmas season. It made sense for Elsa to now be included in the annual event. The way in which she was included, though, could have been handled a bit differently, in my opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Turns out, Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf are visiting this kingdom for the holidays. (They sure do visit neighboring kingdoms often, huh?) They remark about how beautiful the decorations are everywhere, but notice that the castle is missing decor. \"Elsa!\" Anna exclaims. \"Wouldn't it be great if you used your frozen fractiley powers to cover the castle in ice and snow?!\" Elsa replies, \"Anna, I'd love to, but I can't. This isn't our home. We're just visiting and we have to be respectful to the people who live here.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That seems like a perfect cue for the person who DOES live here, right? Instead of Cinderella appearing and giving her blessing, though, Anna literally has the guests peer pressure Elsa into making graffiti on the castle. Ok, ok, so maybe this wasn't meant to be analyzed with such scrutiny, but I can't shake that this could've gone a little different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite this nitpicking, the brief ceremony is a delight. It peppers in clever phrases from <em>Frozen<\/em>'s script throughout its dialogue and includes pleasant orchestral versions of <em>Frozen<\/em> songs and Christmas tunes alike in what is basically an eight minutes of stalled anticipation for the lights to follow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The spectacle itself is still the same as it's always been since 2007. The lights are no different, and are beautiful as ever. Simply the \"turning on\" ceremony each night is now void of Cinderella. Will Elsa be convicted of trespassing charges this year?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Live-Hyperion.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Live-Hyperion\" class=\"wp-image-54651\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>3) <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em><br>Disney California Adventure (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If <em>A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/em> at Disney's Hollywood Studios swerves expectations in an underwhelming (yet endearingly quirky) way, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> at Disney California Adventure swerves expectations in an overwhelming way. It's practically a mini Broadway musical, clocking in at 55 minutes and with the costuming and production value of anything you'd hope to find in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, in the performance I attended, most of the jokes were met with minimal laughter. It would stand to reason that as many times audiences in the room have seen <em>Frozen<\/em> over and over, hearing the same jokes simply aren't funny anymore. However, this could've just been the show I was at and not a common issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though it's nearly flawless, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> holds a sour reputation among some for replacing the phenomenal <em>Aladdin \u2014<\/em> <em>A Musical Spectacular<\/em>, which had performed in this space since 2003 and <strong>did<\/strong> vary up its script with different material and even topical jokes for Genie based on current events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tokyo-Disneyland-Frozen-Fantasy.png\" alt=\"Anna-Elsa-Frozen-Fantasy-Tokyo-Disneyland\" class=\"wp-image-54652\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>2) <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy<\/em><\/strong><br><strong>Tokyo Disneyland (2015-2018<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Imagine <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> from Disney's Hollywood Studios on steroids. Or, perhaps more realistically, with a much bigger budget. That's what <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy <\/em>was at Tokyo Disneyland. This was a seasonal Frozen festival on a grand scale that honestly put Hollywood Studios to shame. With a stronger parade, more park-wide activities, and more impressive fireworks, this celebration lasted four years, with its final season ending last year in 2018. Its big claim to fame? This was the only place in any Disney park to date where you could see Prince Hans.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Ever-After.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Ever-After-Epcot\" class=\"wp-image-54653\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>1.) <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Out this entire list, this is the only item to be a ride. Everything else is some form of live entertainment. Because of the investment and longevity that comes with building a permanent ride as well as the trajectory of influence this particular ride set into motion, it makes the top of our countdown as #1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frozen Ever After is a boat ride taking place after the events of <em>Frozen<\/em>. It's \"winter in summer\" day, celebrating the day on the calendar that Anna saved Elsa with an act of true love. To commemorate, we're invited to take a boat tour of Arendelle. Along the way, we see plenty of familiar faces and even hear a few familiar tunes. This structure is unique from most classic Disney rides of this same style in that <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> doesn't simply retell the events from <em>Frozen<\/em>, though the nature of it is so similar that if you're not paying close attention, you might think it does that anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With stellar Audio-Animatronics figures and even a bit of thrill, <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> is one of Epcot's best attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The context surrounding the ride is particularly curious, though. It replaced <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, a longstanding ride celebrating Norwegian culture. Despite being located within the Norway pavilion and even using the same track layout as <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, <em>Frozen Ever After <\/em>doesn't even try to work in Norwegian heritage into its narrative. At first, this seemed to be a departure of form for Epcot. Now that we're a few years after its opening and we know what Disney's building next, though, the ride was actually a taste of a new era for Epcot, one less occupied with education and more focused on characters. Future attractions will bring <em>Ratatouille<\/em> to the France pavilion and <em>Mary Poppins<\/em> to the United Kingdom pavilion. Elsewhere in the park, a <em>Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em> roller coaster will open (though that, at least, has been promised to include educational value somewhere within it). Whether this new direction for Epcot is exciting or apocalyptic depends on who you ask, but the park is for certain in the middle of a transformation toward a new version of itself, and one might point the beginning of that transformation back to Frozen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen-1024x401.png\" alt=\"Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54654\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It should come as no surprise that, now being an established staple of the Disney fold, Frozen is continuing to be used, perhaps now even more than ever. Following Epcot's lead, multiple permanent attractions are currently in development for Disney theme parks around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why* it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<p>This show is a carry-over from the temporary <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> (see above) that guests enjoyed so much at Disney's Hollywood Studios that Disney decided to make it permanent. That being said, it has the feel of something that didn't know it would be around for a long time. I'm not sure what guests expect upon entering For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration. Despite the words \"sing-along\" being in the title, I don't think many people expect the show to actually be as simple as watching clips from Frozen on a screen and singing along while narrators provide commentary. Yes, it has brief live appearances from Frozen characters, but this is not a full-scale musical retelling of the film as guests might expect from the precedence set by other shows throughout the park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That being said, the premise on paper sounds a lot more boring than the captivating presentation that ensues in person. The sing-along aspect is fun. The narrators are hilarious. The informal nature of the proceedings help us relax a bit; we needn't be on our best behavior as with most \"shows.\" While some may have expected or even preferred a more traditional musical or find it lazy to seemingly pop in a DVD and press play, there's still value in the uniqueness of what happens here if you're willing to let yourself get as excited about it as the narrators are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In California, this show replaced <em>MuppetVision 3D<\/em>, but didn't last long. It closed when <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em>, a much grander production, opened in 2016. The theater where the sing-along was held was a preview center for new Disney films for a few years. Today, it presents <em>Mickey's PhilharMagic<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Frozen-Holiday-Wish.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Holiday-Wish-Magic-Kingdom\" class=\"wp-image-21933\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>4) <em>A Frozen Holiday Wish<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2014-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember when I said <em>Frozen<\/em> sometimes displaced things? Yeeeaaaahhh. Buckle up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beginning in 2007, Disney adorned Cinderella Castle each Christmas season with gorgeous icicle lights. Photos don't do them justice. They're breathtaking. Every night, the lights would magically turn on for the evening with the help of Cinderella and her Fairy Godmother. This is, after all, Cinderella's home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon <em>Frozen<\/em>'s success, the writing was on the wall. This was low-hanging fruit. This was handed to Disney on a silver platter in a way that they'd be silly to neglect. Elsa had icy powers. This was the resort's iconic structure that turned to ice every Christmas season. It made sense for Elsa to now be included in the annual event. The way in which she was included, though, could have been handled a bit differently, in my opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Turns out, Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf are visiting this kingdom for the holidays. (They sure do visit neighboring kingdoms often, huh?) They remark about how beautiful the decorations are everywhere, but notice that the castle is missing decor. \"Elsa!\" Anna exclaims. \"Wouldn't it be great if you used your frozen fractiley powers to cover the castle in ice and snow?!\" Elsa replies, \"Anna, I'd love to, but I can't. This isn't our home. We're just visiting and we have to be respectful to the people who live here.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That seems like a perfect cue for the person who DOES live here, right? Instead of Cinderella appearing and giving her blessing, though, Anna literally has the guests peer pressure Elsa into making graffiti on the castle. Ok, ok, so maybe this wasn't meant to be analyzed with such scrutiny, but I can't shake that this could've gone a little different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite this nitpicking, the brief ceremony is a delight. It peppers in clever phrases from <em>Frozen<\/em>'s script throughout its dialogue and includes pleasant orchestral versions of <em>Frozen<\/em> songs and Christmas tunes alike in what is basically an eight minutes of stalled anticipation for the lights to follow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The spectacle itself is still the same as it's always been since 2007. The lights are no different, and are beautiful as ever. Simply the \"turning on\" ceremony each night is now void of Cinderella. Will Elsa be convicted of trespassing charges this year?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Live-Hyperion.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Live-Hyperion\" class=\"wp-image-54651\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>3) <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em><br>Disney California Adventure (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If <em>A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/em> at Disney's Hollywood Studios swerves expectations in an underwhelming (yet endearingly quirky) way, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> at Disney California Adventure swerves expectations in an overwhelming way. It's practically a mini Broadway musical, clocking in at 55 minutes and with the costuming and production value of anything you'd hope to find in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, in the performance I attended, most of the jokes were met with minimal laughter. It would stand to reason that as many times audiences in the room have seen <em>Frozen<\/em> over and over, hearing the same jokes simply aren't funny anymore. However, this could've just been the show I was at and not a common issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though it's nearly flawless, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> holds a sour reputation among some for replacing the phenomenal <em>Aladdin \u2014<\/em> <em>A Musical Spectacular<\/em>, which had performed in this space since 2003 and <strong>did<\/strong> vary up its script with different material and even topical jokes for Genie based on current events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tokyo-Disneyland-Frozen-Fantasy.png\" alt=\"Anna-Elsa-Frozen-Fantasy-Tokyo-Disneyland\" class=\"wp-image-54652\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>2) <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy<\/em><\/strong><br><strong>Tokyo Disneyland (2015-2018<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Imagine <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> from Disney's Hollywood Studios on steroids. Or, perhaps more realistically, with a much bigger budget. That's what <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy <\/em>was at Tokyo Disneyland. This was a seasonal Frozen festival on a grand scale that honestly put Hollywood Studios to shame. With a stronger parade, more park-wide activities, and more impressive fireworks, this celebration lasted four years, with its final season ending last year in 2018. Its big claim to fame? This was the only place in any Disney park to date where you could see Prince Hans.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Ever-After.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Ever-After-Epcot\" class=\"wp-image-54653\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>1.) <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Out this entire list, this is the only item to be a ride. Everything else is some form of live entertainment. Because of the investment and longevity that comes with building a permanent ride as well as the trajectory of influence this particular ride set into motion, it makes the top of our countdown as #1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frozen Ever After is a boat ride taking place after the events of <em>Frozen<\/em>. It's \"winter in summer\" day, celebrating the day on the calendar that Anna saved Elsa with an act of true love. To commemorate, we're invited to take a boat tour of Arendelle. Along the way, we see plenty of familiar faces and even hear a few familiar tunes. This structure is unique from most classic Disney rides of this same style in that <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> doesn't simply retell the events from <em>Frozen<\/em>, though the nature of it is so similar that if you're not paying close attention, you might think it does that anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With stellar Audio-Animatronics figures and even a bit of thrill, <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> is one of Epcot's best attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The context surrounding the ride is particularly curious, though. It replaced <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, a longstanding ride celebrating Norwegian culture. Despite being located within the Norway pavilion and even using the same track layout as <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, <em>Frozen Ever After <\/em>doesn't even try to work in Norwegian heritage into its narrative. At first, this seemed to be a departure of form for Epcot. Now that we're a few years after its opening and we know what Disney's building next, though, the ride was actually a taste of a new era for Epcot, one less occupied with education and more focused on characters. Future attractions will bring <em>Ratatouille<\/em> to the France pavilion and <em>Mary Poppins<\/em> to the United Kingdom pavilion. Elsewhere in the park, a <em>Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em> roller coaster will open (though that, at least, has been promised to include educational value somewhere within it). Whether this new direction for Epcot is exciting or apocalyptic depends on who you ask, but the park is for certain in the middle of a transformation toward a new version of itself, and one might point the beginning of that transformation back to Frozen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen-1024x401.png\" alt=\"Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54654\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It should come as no surprise that, now being an established staple of the Disney fold, Frozen is continuing to be used, perhaps now even more than ever. Following Epcot's lead, multiple permanent attractions are currently in development for Disney theme parks around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why* it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<h2><strong>5) <\/strong><em><strong>For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/strong><\/em><strong><br>Disney's Hollywood Studios (2014-present)<br>Disney California Adventure (2015-2016<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This show is a carry-over from the temporary <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> (see above) that guests enjoyed so much at Disney's Hollywood Studios that Disney decided to make it permanent. That being said, it has the feel of something that didn't know it would be around for a long time. I'm not sure what guests expect upon entering For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration. Despite the words \"sing-along\" being in the title, I don't think many people expect the show to actually be as simple as watching clips from Frozen on a screen and singing along while narrators provide commentary. Yes, it has brief live appearances from Frozen characters, but this is not a full-scale musical retelling of the film as guests might expect from the precedence set by other shows throughout the park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That being said, the premise on paper sounds a lot more boring than the captivating presentation that ensues in person. The sing-along aspect is fun. The narrators are hilarious. The informal nature of the proceedings help us relax a bit; we needn't be on our best behavior as with most \"shows.\" While some may have expected or even preferred a more traditional musical or find it lazy to seemingly pop in a DVD and press play, there's still value in the uniqueness of what happens here if you're willing to let yourself get as excited about it as the narrators are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In California, this show replaced <em>MuppetVision 3D<\/em>, but didn't last long. It closed when <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em>, a much grander production, opened in 2016. The theater where the sing-along was held was a preview center for new Disney films for a few years. Today, it presents <em>Mickey's PhilharMagic<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Frozen-Holiday-Wish.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Holiday-Wish-Magic-Kingdom\" class=\"wp-image-21933\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>4) <em>A Frozen Holiday Wish<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2014-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember when I said <em>Frozen<\/em> sometimes displaced things? Yeeeaaaahhh. Buckle up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beginning in 2007, Disney adorned Cinderella Castle each Christmas season with gorgeous icicle lights. Photos don't do them justice. They're breathtaking. Every night, the lights would magically turn on for the evening with the help of Cinderella and her Fairy Godmother. This is, after all, Cinderella's home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon <em>Frozen<\/em>'s success, the writing was on the wall. This was low-hanging fruit. This was handed to Disney on a silver platter in a way that they'd be silly to neglect. Elsa had icy powers. This was the resort's iconic structure that turned to ice every Christmas season. It made sense for Elsa to now be included in the annual event. The way in which she was included, though, could have been handled a bit differently, in my opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Turns out, Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf are visiting this kingdom for the holidays. (They sure do visit neighboring kingdoms often, huh?) They remark about how beautiful the decorations are everywhere, but notice that the castle is missing decor. \"Elsa!\" Anna exclaims. \"Wouldn't it be great if you used your frozen fractiley powers to cover the castle in ice and snow?!\" Elsa replies, \"Anna, I'd love to, but I can't. This isn't our home. We're just visiting and we have to be respectful to the people who live here.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That seems like a perfect cue for the person who DOES live here, right? Instead of Cinderella appearing and giving her blessing, though, Anna literally has the guests peer pressure Elsa into making graffiti on the castle. Ok, ok, so maybe this wasn't meant to be analyzed with such scrutiny, but I can't shake that this could've gone a little different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite this nitpicking, the brief ceremony is a delight. It peppers in clever phrases from <em>Frozen<\/em>'s script throughout its dialogue and includes pleasant orchestral versions of <em>Frozen<\/em> songs and Christmas tunes alike in what is basically an eight minutes of stalled anticipation for the lights to follow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The spectacle itself is still the same as it's always been since 2007. The lights are no different, and are beautiful as ever. Simply the \"turning on\" ceremony each night is now void of Cinderella. Will Elsa be convicted of trespassing charges this year?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Live-Hyperion.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Live-Hyperion\" class=\"wp-image-54651\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>3) <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em><br>Disney California Adventure (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If <em>A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/em> at Disney's Hollywood Studios swerves expectations in an underwhelming (yet endearingly quirky) way, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> at Disney California Adventure swerves expectations in an overwhelming way. It's practically a mini Broadway musical, clocking in at 55 minutes and with the costuming and production value of anything you'd hope to find in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, in the performance I attended, most of the jokes were met with minimal laughter. It would stand to reason that as many times audiences in the room have seen <em>Frozen<\/em> over and over, hearing the same jokes simply aren't funny anymore. However, this could've just been the show I was at and not a common issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though it's nearly flawless, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> holds a sour reputation among some for replacing the phenomenal <em>Aladdin \u2014<\/em> <em>A Musical Spectacular<\/em>, which had performed in this space since 2003 and <strong>did<\/strong> vary up its script with different material and even topical jokes for Genie based on current events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tokyo-Disneyland-Frozen-Fantasy.png\" alt=\"Anna-Elsa-Frozen-Fantasy-Tokyo-Disneyland\" class=\"wp-image-54652\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>2) <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy<\/em><\/strong><br><strong>Tokyo Disneyland (2015-2018<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Imagine <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> from Disney's Hollywood Studios on steroids. Or, perhaps more realistically, with a much bigger budget. That's what <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy <\/em>was at Tokyo Disneyland. This was a seasonal Frozen festival on a grand scale that honestly put Hollywood Studios to shame. With a stronger parade, more park-wide activities, and more impressive fireworks, this celebration lasted four years, with its final season ending last year in 2018. Its big claim to fame? This was the only place in any Disney park to date where you could see Prince Hans.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Ever-After.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Ever-After-Epcot\" class=\"wp-image-54653\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>1.) <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Out this entire list, this is the only item to be a ride. Everything else is some form of live entertainment. Because of the investment and longevity that comes with building a permanent ride as well as the trajectory of influence this particular ride set into motion, it makes the top of our countdown as #1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frozen Ever After is a boat ride taking place after the events of <em>Frozen<\/em>. It's \"winter in summer\" day, celebrating the day on the calendar that Anna saved Elsa with an act of true love. To commemorate, we're invited to take a boat tour of Arendelle. Along the way, we see plenty of familiar faces and even hear a few familiar tunes. This structure is unique from most classic Disney rides of this same style in that <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> doesn't simply retell the events from <em>Frozen<\/em>, though the nature of it is so similar that if you're not paying close attention, you might think it does that anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With stellar Audio-Animatronics figures and even a bit of thrill, <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> is one of Epcot's best attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The context surrounding the ride is particularly curious, though. It replaced <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, a longstanding ride celebrating Norwegian culture. Despite being located within the Norway pavilion and even using the same track layout as <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, <em>Frozen Ever After <\/em>doesn't even try to work in Norwegian heritage into its narrative. At first, this seemed to be a departure of form for Epcot. Now that we're a few years after its opening and we know what Disney's building next, though, the ride was actually a taste of a new era for Epcot, one less occupied with education and more focused on characters. Future attractions will bring <em>Ratatouille<\/em> to the France pavilion and <em>Mary Poppins<\/em> to the United Kingdom pavilion. Elsewhere in the park, a <em>Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em> roller coaster will open (though that, at least, has been promised to include educational value somewhere within it). Whether this new direction for Epcot is exciting or apocalyptic depends on who you ask, but the park is for certain in the middle of a transformation toward a new version of itself, and one might point the beginning of that transformation back to Frozen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen-1024x401.png\" alt=\"Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54654\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It should come as no surprise that, now being an established staple of the Disney fold, Frozen is continuing to be used, perhaps now even more than ever. Following Epcot's lead, multiple permanent attractions are currently in development for Disney theme parks around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why* it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/First-Time-In-Forever.jpg\" alt=\"First-Time-In-Forever-Frozen-Sing-Along-Celebration\" class=\"wp-image-54650\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>5) <\/strong><em><strong>For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/strong><\/em><strong><br>Disney's Hollywood Studios (2014-present)<br>Disney California Adventure (2015-2016<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This show is a carry-over from the temporary <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> (see above) that guests enjoyed so much at Disney's Hollywood Studios that Disney decided to make it permanent. That being said, it has the feel of something that didn't know it would be around for a long time. I'm not sure what guests expect upon entering For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration. Despite the words \"sing-along\" being in the title, I don't think many people expect the show to actually be as simple as watching clips from Frozen on a screen and singing along while narrators provide commentary. Yes, it has brief live appearances from Frozen characters, but this is not a full-scale musical retelling of the film as guests might expect from the precedence set by other shows throughout the park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That being said, the premise on paper sounds a lot more boring than the captivating presentation that ensues in person. The sing-along aspect is fun. The narrators are hilarious. The informal nature of the proceedings help us relax a bit; we needn't be on our best behavior as with most \"shows.\" While some may have expected or even preferred a more traditional musical or find it lazy to seemingly pop in a DVD and press play, there's still value in the uniqueness of what happens here if you're willing to let yourself get as excited about it as the narrators are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In California, this show replaced <em>MuppetVision 3D<\/em>, but didn't last long. It closed when <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em>, a much grander production, opened in 2016. The theater where the sing-along was held was a preview center for new Disney films for a few years. Today, it presents <em>Mickey's PhilharMagic<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Frozen-Holiday-Wish.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Holiday-Wish-Magic-Kingdom\" class=\"wp-image-21933\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>4) <em>A Frozen Holiday Wish<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2014-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember when I said <em>Frozen<\/em> sometimes displaced things? Yeeeaaaahhh. Buckle up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beginning in 2007, Disney adorned Cinderella Castle each Christmas season with gorgeous icicle lights. Photos don't do them justice. They're breathtaking. Every night, the lights would magically turn on for the evening with the help of Cinderella and her Fairy Godmother. This is, after all, Cinderella's home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon <em>Frozen<\/em>'s success, the writing was on the wall. This was low-hanging fruit. This was handed to Disney on a silver platter in a way that they'd be silly to neglect. Elsa had icy powers. This was the resort's iconic structure that turned to ice every Christmas season. It made sense for Elsa to now be included in the annual event. The way in which she was included, though, could have been handled a bit differently, in my opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Turns out, Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf are visiting this kingdom for the holidays. (They sure do visit neighboring kingdoms often, huh?) They remark about how beautiful the decorations are everywhere, but notice that the castle is missing decor. \"Elsa!\" Anna exclaims. \"Wouldn't it be great if you used your frozen fractiley powers to cover the castle in ice and snow?!\" Elsa replies, \"Anna, I'd love to, but I can't. This isn't our home. We're just visiting and we have to be respectful to the people who live here.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That seems like a perfect cue for the person who DOES live here, right? Instead of Cinderella appearing and giving her blessing, though, Anna literally has the guests peer pressure Elsa into making graffiti on the castle. Ok, ok, so maybe this wasn't meant to be analyzed with such scrutiny, but I can't shake that this could've gone a little different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite this nitpicking, the brief ceremony is a delight. It peppers in clever phrases from <em>Frozen<\/em>'s script throughout its dialogue and includes pleasant orchestral versions of <em>Frozen<\/em> songs and Christmas tunes alike in what is basically an eight minutes of stalled anticipation for the lights to follow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The spectacle itself is still the same as it's always been since 2007. The lights are no different, and are beautiful as ever. Simply the \"turning on\" ceremony each night is now void of Cinderella. Will Elsa be convicted of trespassing charges this year?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Live-Hyperion.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Live-Hyperion\" class=\"wp-image-54651\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>3) <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em><br>Disney California Adventure (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If <em>A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/em> at Disney's Hollywood Studios swerves expectations in an underwhelming (yet endearingly quirky) way, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> at Disney California Adventure swerves expectations in an overwhelming way. It's practically a mini Broadway musical, clocking in at 55 minutes and with the costuming and production value of anything you'd hope to find in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, in the performance I attended, most of the jokes were met with minimal laughter. It would stand to reason that as many times audiences in the room have seen <em>Frozen<\/em> over and over, hearing the same jokes simply aren't funny anymore. However, this could've just been the show I was at and not a common issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though it's nearly flawless, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> holds a sour reputation among some for replacing the phenomenal <em>Aladdin \u2014<\/em> <em>A Musical Spectacular<\/em>, which had performed in this space since 2003 and <strong>did<\/strong> vary up its script with different material and even topical jokes for Genie based on current events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tokyo-Disneyland-Frozen-Fantasy.png\" alt=\"Anna-Elsa-Frozen-Fantasy-Tokyo-Disneyland\" class=\"wp-image-54652\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>2) <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy<\/em><\/strong><br><strong>Tokyo Disneyland (2015-2018<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Imagine <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> from Disney's Hollywood Studios on steroids. Or, perhaps more realistically, with a much bigger budget. That's what <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy <\/em>was at Tokyo Disneyland. This was a seasonal Frozen festival on a grand scale that honestly put Hollywood Studios to shame. With a stronger parade, more park-wide activities, and more impressive fireworks, this celebration lasted four years, with its final season ending last year in 2018. Its big claim to fame? This was the only place in any Disney park to date where you could see Prince Hans.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Ever-After.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Ever-After-Epcot\" class=\"wp-image-54653\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>1.) <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Out this entire list, this is the only item to be a ride. Everything else is some form of live entertainment. Because of the investment and longevity that comes with building a permanent ride as well as the trajectory of influence this particular ride set into motion, it makes the top of our countdown as #1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frozen Ever After is a boat ride taking place after the events of <em>Frozen<\/em>. It's \"winter in summer\" day, celebrating the day on the calendar that Anna saved Elsa with an act of true love. To commemorate, we're invited to take a boat tour of Arendelle. Along the way, we see plenty of familiar faces and even hear a few familiar tunes. This structure is unique from most classic Disney rides of this same style in that <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> doesn't simply retell the events from <em>Frozen<\/em>, though the nature of it is so similar that if you're not paying close attention, you might think it does that anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With stellar Audio-Animatronics figures and even a bit of thrill, <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> is one of Epcot's best attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The context surrounding the ride is particularly curious, though. It replaced <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, a longstanding ride celebrating Norwegian culture. Despite being located within the Norway pavilion and even using the same track layout as <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, <em>Frozen Ever After <\/em>doesn't even try to work in Norwegian heritage into its narrative. At first, this seemed to be a departure of form for Epcot. Now that we're a few years after its opening and we know what Disney's building next, though, the ride was actually a taste of a new era for Epcot, one less occupied with education and more focused on characters. Future attractions will bring <em>Ratatouille<\/em> to the France pavilion and <em>Mary Poppins<\/em> to the United Kingdom pavilion. Elsewhere in the park, a <em>Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em> roller coaster will open (though that, at least, has been promised to include educational value somewhere within it). Whether this new direction for Epcot is exciting or apocalyptic depends on who you ask, but the park is for certain in the middle of a transformation toward a new version of itself, and one might point the beginning of that transformation back to Frozen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen-1024x401.png\" alt=\"Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54654\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It should come as no surprise that, now being an established staple of the Disney fold, Frozen is continuing to be used, perhaps now even more than ever. Following Epcot's lead, multiple permanent attractions are currently in development for Disney theme parks around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why* it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<p>This means that we literally get to see Anna, Elsa, and Olaf introduce themselves to Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Think about the magnitude of that sentence. These are generations of Disney coming together before our eyes, tangibly greeting one another for the very first time. As a fan, this is an interesting opportunity and not one that I think many expected to be part of this show's proceedings when it opened in 2016. Also of note is that Minnie has heard of Anna and Elsa. In fact, she's a fangirl. Mickey's set up the sisters' arrival as a surprise to Minnie, and the mouse, like many in the audience, goes crazy. \"From the moment I heard your story, I admired you both so much.\" So did we.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/First-Time-In-Forever.jpg\" alt=\"First-Time-In-Forever-Frozen-Sing-Along-Celebration\" class=\"wp-image-54650\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>5) <\/strong><em><strong>For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/strong><\/em><strong><br>Disney's Hollywood Studios (2014-present)<br>Disney California Adventure (2015-2016<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This show is a carry-over from the temporary <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> (see above) that guests enjoyed so much at Disney's Hollywood Studios that Disney decided to make it permanent. That being said, it has the feel of something that didn't know it would be around for a long time. I'm not sure what guests expect upon entering For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration. Despite the words \"sing-along\" being in the title, I don't think many people expect the show to actually be as simple as watching clips from Frozen on a screen and singing along while narrators provide commentary. Yes, it has brief live appearances from Frozen characters, but this is not a full-scale musical retelling of the film as guests might expect from the precedence set by other shows throughout the park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That being said, the premise on paper sounds a lot more boring than the captivating presentation that ensues in person. The sing-along aspect is fun. The narrators are hilarious. The informal nature of the proceedings help us relax a bit; we needn't be on our best behavior as with most \"shows.\" While some may have expected or even preferred a more traditional musical or find it lazy to seemingly pop in a DVD and press play, there's still value in the uniqueness of what happens here if you're willing to let yourself get as excited about it as the narrators are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In California, this show replaced <em>MuppetVision 3D<\/em>, but didn't last long. It closed when <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em>, a much grander production, opened in 2016. The theater where the sing-along was held was a preview center for new Disney films for a few years. Today, it presents <em>Mickey's PhilharMagic<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Frozen-Holiday-Wish.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Holiday-Wish-Magic-Kingdom\" class=\"wp-image-21933\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>4) <em>A Frozen Holiday Wish<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2014-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember when I said <em>Frozen<\/em> sometimes displaced things? Yeeeaaaahhh. Buckle up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beginning in 2007, Disney adorned Cinderella Castle each Christmas season with gorgeous icicle lights. Photos don't do them justice. They're breathtaking. Every night, the lights would magically turn on for the evening with the help of Cinderella and her Fairy Godmother. This is, after all, Cinderella's home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon <em>Frozen<\/em>'s success, the writing was on the wall. This was low-hanging fruit. This was handed to Disney on a silver platter in a way that they'd be silly to neglect. Elsa had icy powers. This was the resort's iconic structure that turned to ice every Christmas season. It made sense for Elsa to now be included in the annual event. The way in which she was included, though, could have been handled a bit differently, in my opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Turns out, Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf are visiting this kingdom for the holidays. (They sure do visit neighboring kingdoms often, huh?) They remark about how beautiful the decorations are everywhere, but notice that the castle is missing decor. \"Elsa!\" Anna exclaims. \"Wouldn't it be great if you used your frozen fractiley powers to cover the castle in ice and snow?!\" Elsa replies, \"Anna, I'd love to, but I can't. This isn't our home. We're just visiting and we have to be respectful to the people who live here.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That seems like a perfect cue for the person who DOES live here, right? Instead of Cinderella appearing and giving her blessing, though, Anna literally has the guests peer pressure Elsa into making graffiti on the castle. Ok, ok, so maybe this wasn't meant to be analyzed with such scrutiny, but I can't shake that this could've gone a little different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite this nitpicking, the brief ceremony is a delight. It peppers in clever phrases from <em>Frozen<\/em>'s script throughout its dialogue and includes pleasant orchestral versions of <em>Frozen<\/em> songs and Christmas tunes alike in what is basically an eight minutes of stalled anticipation for the lights to follow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The spectacle itself is still the same as it's always been since 2007. The lights are no different, and are beautiful as ever. Simply the \"turning on\" ceremony each night is now void of Cinderella. Will Elsa be convicted of trespassing charges this year?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Live-Hyperion.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Live-Hyperion\" class=\"wp-image-54651\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>3) <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em><br>Disney California Adventure (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If <em>A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/em> at Disney's Hollywood Studios swerves expectations in an underwhelming (yet endearingly quirky) way, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> at Disney California Adventure swerves expectations in an overwhelming way. It's practically a mini Broadway musical, clocking in at 55 minutes and with the costuming and production value of anything you'd hope to find in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, in the performance I attended, most of the jokes were met with minimal laughter. It would stand to reason that as many times audiences in the room have seen <em>Frozen<\/em> over and over, hearing the same jokes simply aren't funny anymore. However, this could've just been the show I was at and not a common issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though it's nearly flawless, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> holds a sour reputation among some for replacing the phenomenal <em>Aladdin \u2014<\/em> <em>A Musical Spectacular<\/em>, which had performed in this space since 2003 and <strong>did<\/strong> vary up its script with different material and even topical jokes for Genie based on current events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tokyo-Disneyland-Frozen-Fantasy.png\" alt=\"Anna-Elsa-Frozen-Fantasy-Tokyo-Disneyland\" class=\"wp-image-54652\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>2) <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy<\/em><\/strong><br><strong>Tokyo Disneyland (2015-2018<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Imagine <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> from Disney's Hollywood Studios on steroids. Or, perhaps more realistically, with a much bigger budget. That's what <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy <\/em>was at Tokyo Disneyland. This was a seasonal Frozen festival on a grand scale that honestly put Hollywood Studios to shame. With a stronger parade, more park-wide activities, and more impressive fireworks, this celebration lasted four years, with its final season ending last year in 2018. Its big claim to fame? This was the only place in any Disney park to date where you could see Prince Hans.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Ever-After.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Ever-After-Epcot\" class=\"wp-image-54653\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>1.) <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Out this entire list, this is the only item to be a ride. Everything else is some form of live entertainment. Because of the investment and longevity that comes with building a permanent ride as well as the trajectory of influence this particular ride set into motion, it makes the top of our countdown as #1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frozen Ever After is a boat ride taking place after the events of <em>Frozen<\/em>. It's \"winter in summer\" day, celebrating the day on the calendar that Anna saved Elsa with an act of true love. To commemorate, we're invited to take a boat tour of Arendelle. Along the way, we see plenty of familiar faces and even hear a few familiar tunes. This structure is unique from most classic Disney rides of this same style in that <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> doesn't simply retell the events from <em>Frozen<\/em>, though the nature of it is so similar that if you're not paying close attention, you might think it does that anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With stellar Audio-Animatronics figures and even a bit of thrill, <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> is one of Epcot's best attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The context surrounding the ride is particularly curious, though. It replaced <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, a longstanding ride celebrating Norwegian culture. Despite being located within the Norway pavilion and even using the same track layout as <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, <em>Frozen Ever After <\/em>doesn't even try to work in Norwegian heritage into its narrative. At first, this seemed to be a departure of form for Epcot. Now that we're a few years after its opening and we know what Disney's building next, though, the ride was actually a taste of a new era for Epcot, one less occupied with education and more focused on characters. Future attractions will bring <em>Ratatouille<\/em> to the France pavilion and <em>Mary Poppins<\/em> to the United Kingdom pavilion. Elsewhere in the park, a <em>Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em> roller coaster will open (though that, at least, has been promised to include educational value somewhere within it). Whether this new direction for Epcot is exciting or apocalyptic depends on who you ask, but the park is for certain in the middle of a transformation toward a new version of itself, and one might point the beginning of that transformation back to Frozen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen-1024x401.png\" alt=\"Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54654\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It should come as no surprise that, now being an established staple of the Disney fold, Frozen is continuing to be used, perhaps now even more than ever. Following Epcot's lead, multiple permanent attractions are currently in development for Disney theme parks around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why* it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<p>This stage show in front of Cinderella Castle incidentally celebrates, in chronological order, the peak films of the Disney Revival: <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), and <em>Frozen<\/em> (2013). In context of our <em>Frozen <\/em>countdown, the most fascinating quality that Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire offers is the interactions of Mickey and the gang with the royalty of the Disney animated films. Unlike, say, Cinderella or Peter Pan, who Mickey has seen often and seems to know quite well, this show presents each character as the first time they've ever been part of a Disney spectacle like this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This means that we literally get to see Anna, Elsa, and Olaf introduce themselves to Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Think about the magnitude of that sentence. These are generations of Disney coming together before our eyes, tangibly greeting one another for the very first time. As a fan, this is an interesting opportunity and not one that I think many expected to be part of this show's proceedings when it opened in 2016. Also of note is that Minnie has heard of Anna and Elsa. In fact, she's a fangirl. Mickey's set up the sisters' arrival as a surprise to Minnie, and the mouse, like many in the audience, goes crazy. \"From the moment I heard your story, I admired you both so much.\" So did we.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/First-Time-In-Forever.jpg\" alt=\"First-Time-In-Forever-Frozen-Sing-Along-Celebration\" class=\"wp-image-54650\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>5) <\/strong><em><strong>For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/strong><\/em><strong><br>Disney's Hollywood Studios (2014-present)<br>Disney California Adventure (2015-2016<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This show is a carry-over from the temporary <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> (see above) that guests enjoyed so much at Disney's Hollywood Studios that Disney decided to make it permanent. That being said, it has the feel of something that didn't know it would be around for a long time. I'm not sure what guests expect upon entering For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration. Despite the words \"sing-along\" being in the title, I don't think many people expect the show to actually be as simple as watching clips from Frozen on a screen and singing along while narrators provide commentary. Yes, it has brief live appearances from Frozen characters, but this is not a full-scale musical retelling of the film as guests might expect from the precedence set by other shows throughout the park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That being said, the premise on paper sounds a lot more boring than the captivating presentation that ensues in person. The sing-along aspect is fun. The narrators are hilarious. The informal nature of the proceedings help us relax a bit; we needn't be on our best behavior as with most \"shows.\" While some may have expected or even preferred a more traditional musical or find it lazy to seemingly pop in a DVD and press play, there's still value in the uniqueness of what happens here if you're willing to let yourself get as excited about it as the narrators are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In California, this show replaced <em>MuppetVision 3D<\/em>, but didn't last long. It closed when <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em>, a much grander production, opened in 2016. The theater where the sing-along was held was a preview center for new Disney films for a few years. Today, it presents <em>Mickey's PhilharMagic<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Frozen-Holiday-Wish.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Holiday-Wish-Magic-Kingdom\" class=\"wp-image-21933\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>4) <em>A Frozen Holiday Wish<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2014-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember when I said <em>Frozen<\/em> sometimes displaced things? Yeeeaaaahhh. Buckle up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beginning in 2007, Disney adorned Cinderella Castle each Christmas season with gorgeous icicle lights. Photos don't do them justice. They're breathtaking. Every night, the lights would magically turn on for the evening with the help of Cinderella and her Fairy Godmother. This is, after all, Cinderella's home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon <em>Frozen<\/em>'s success, the writing was on the wall. This was low-hanging fruit. This was handed to Disney on a silver platter in a way that they'd be silly to neglect. Elsa had icy powers. This was the resort's iconic structure that turned to ice every Christmas season. It made sense for Elsa to now be included in the annual event. The way in which she was included, though, could have been handled a bit differently, in my opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Turns out, Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf are visiting this kingdom for the holidays. (They sure do visit neighboring kingdoms often, huh?) They remark about how beautiful the decorations are everywhere, but notice that the castle is missing decor. \"Elsa!\" Anna exclaims. \"Wouldn't it be great if you used your frozen fractiley powers to cover the castle in ice and snow?!\" Elsa replies, \"Anna, I'd love to, but I can't. This isn't our home. We're just visiting and we have to be respectful to the people who live here.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That seems like a perfect cue for the person who DOES live here, right? Instead of Cinderella appearing and giving her blessing, though, Anna literally has the guests peer pressure Elsa into making graffiti on the castle. Ok, ok, so maybe this wasn't meant to be analyzed with such scrutiny, but I can't shake that this could've gone a little different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite this nitpicking, the brief ceremony is a delight. It peppers in clever phrases from <em>Frozen<\/em>'s script throughout its dialogue and includes pleasant orchestral versions of <em>Frozen<\/em> songs and Christmas tunes alike in what is basically an eight minutes of stalled anticipation for the lights to follow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The spectacle itself is still the same as it's always been since 2007. The lights are no different, and are beautiful as ever. Simply the \"turning on\" ceremony each night is now void of Cinderella. Will Elsa be convicted of trespassing charges this year?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Live-Hyperion.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Live-Hyperion\" class=\"wp-image-54651\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>3) <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em><br>Disney California Adventure (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If <em>A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/em> at Disney's Hollywood Studios swerves expectations in an underwhelming (yet endearingly quirky) way, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> at Disney California Adventure swerves expectations in an overwhelming way. It's practically a mini Broadway musical, clocking in at 55 minutes and with the costuming and production value of anything you'd hope to find in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, in the performance I attended, most of the jokes were met with minimal laughter. It would stand to reason that as many times audiences in the room have seen <em>Frozen<\/em> over and over, hearing the same jokes simply aren't funny anymore. However, this could've just been the show I was at and not a common issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though it's nearly flawless, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> holds a sour reputation among some for replacing the phenomenal <em>Aladdin \u2014<\/em> <em>A Musical Spectacular<\/em>, which had performed in this space since 2003 and <strong>did<\/strong> vary up its script with different material and even topical jokes for Genie based on current events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tokyo-Disneyland-Frozen-Fantasy.png\" alt=\"Anna-Elsa-Frozen-Fantasy-Tokyo-Disneyland\" class=\"wp-image-54652\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>2) <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy<\/em><\/strong><br><strong>Tokyo Disneyland (2015-2018<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Imagine <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> from Disney's Hollywood Studios on steroids. Or, perhaps more realistically, with a much bigger budget. That's what <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy <\/em>was at Tokyo Disneyland. This was a seasonal Frozen festival on a grand scale that honestly put Hollywood Studios to shame. With a stronger parade, more park-wide activities, and more impressive fireworks, this celebration lasted four years, with its final season ending last year in 2018. Its big claim to fame? This was the only place in any Disney park to date where you could see Prince Hans.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Ever-After.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Ever-After-Epcot\" class=\"wp-image-54653\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>1.) <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Out this entire list, this is the only item to be a ride. Everything else is some form of live entertainment. Because of the investment and longevity that comes with building a permanent ride as well as the trajectory of influence this particular ride set into motion, it makes the top of our countdown as #1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frozen Ever After is a boat ride taking place after the events of <em>Frozen<\/em>. It's \"winter in summer\" day, celebrating the day on the calendar that Anna saved Elsa with an act of true love. To commemorate, we're invited to take a boat tour of Arendelle. Along the way, we see plenty of familiar faces and even hear a few familiar tunes. This structure is unique from most classic Disney rides of this same style in that <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> doesn't simply retell the events from <em>Frozen<\/em>, though the nature of it is so similar that if you're not paying close attention, you might think it does that anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With stellar Audio-Animatronics figures and even a bit of thrill, <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> is one of Epcot's best attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The context surrounding the ride is particularly curious, though. It replaced <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, a longstanding ride celebrating Norwegian culture. Despite being located within the Norway pavilion and even using the same track layout as <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, <em>Frozen Ever After <\/em>doesn't even try to work in Norwegian heritage into its narrative. At first, this seemed to be a departure of form for Epcot. Now that we're a few years after its opening and we know what Disney's building next, though, the ride was actually a taste of a new era for Epcot, one less occupied with education and more focused on characters. Future attractions will bring <em>Ratatouille<\/em> to the France pavilion and <em>Mary Poppins<\/em> to the United Kingdom pavilion. Elsewhere in the park, a <em>Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em> roller coaster will open (though that, at least, has been promised to include educational value somewhere within it). Whether this new direction for Epcot is exciting or apocalyptic depends on who you ask, but the park is for certain in the middle of a transformation toward a new version of itself, and one might point the beginning of that transformation back to Frozen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen-1024x401.png\" alt=\"Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54654\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It should come as no surprise that, now being an established staple of the Disney fold, Frozen is continuing to be used, perhaps now even more than ever. Following Epcot's lead, multiple permanent attractions are currently in development for Disney theme parks around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why* it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<h2><strong>6) <em>Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This stage show in front of Cinderella Castle incidentally celebrates, in chronological order, the peak films of the Disney Revival: <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), and <em>Frozen<\/em> (2013). In context of our <em>Frozen <\/em>countdown, the most fascinating quality that Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire offers is the interactions of Mickey and the gang with the royalty of the Disney animated films. Unlike, say, Cinderella or Peter Pan, who Mickey has seen often and seems to know quite well, this show presents each character as the first time they've ever been part of a Disney spectacle like this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This means that we literally get to see Anna, Elsa, and Olaf introduce themselves to Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Think about the magnitude of that sentence. These are generations of Disney coming together before our eyes, tangibly greeting one another for the very first time. As a fan, this is an interesting opportunity and not one that I think many expected to be part of this show's proceedings when it opened in 2016. Also of note is that Minnie has heard of Anna and Elsa. In fact, she's a fangirl. Mickey's set up the sisters' arrival as a surprise to Minnie, and the mouse, like many in the audience, goes crazy. \"From the moment I heard your story, I admired you both so much.\" So did we.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/First-Time-In-Forever.jpg\" alt=\"First-Time-In-Forever-Frozen-Sing-Along-Celebration\" class=\"wp-image-54650\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>5) <\/strong><em><strong>For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/strong><\/em><strong><br>Disney's Hollywood Studios (2014-present)<br>Disney California Adventure (2015-2016<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This show is a carry-over from the temporary <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> (see above) that guests enjoyed so much at Disney's Hollywood Studios that Disney decided to make it permanent. That being said, it has the feel of something that didn't know it would be around for a long time. I'm not sure what guests expect upon entering For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration. Despite the words \"sing-along\" being in the title, I don't think many people expect the show to actually be as simple as watching clips from Frozen on a screen and singing along while narrators provide commentary. Yes, it has brief live appearances from Frozen characters, but this is not a full-scale musical retelling of the film as guests might expect from the precedence set by other shows throughout the park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That being said, the premise on paper sounds a lot more boring than the captivating presentation that ensues in person. The sing-along aspect is fun. The narrators are hilarious. The informal nature of the proceedings help us relax a bit; we needn't be on our best behavior as with most \"shows.\" While some may have expected or even preferred a more traditional musical or find it lazy to seemingly pop in a DVD and press play, there's still value in the uniqueness of what happens here if you're willing to let yourself get as excited about it as the narrators are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In California, this show replaced <em>MuppetVision 3D<\/em>, but didn't last long. It closed when <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em>, a much grander production, opened in 2016. The theater where the sing-along was held was a preview center for new Disney films for a few years. Today, it presents <em>Mickey's PhilharMagic<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Frozen-Holiday-Wish.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Holiday-Wish-Magic-Kingdom\" class=\"wp-image-21933\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>4) <em>A Frozen Holiday Wish<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2014-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember when I said <em>Frozen<\/em> sometimes displaced things? Yeeeaaaahhh. Buckle up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beginning in 2007, Disney adorned Cinderella Castle each Christmas season with gorgeous icicle lights. Photos don't do them justice. They're breathtaking. Every night, the lights would magically turn on for the evening with the help of Cinderella and her Fairy Godmother. This is, after all, Cinderella's home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon <em>Frozen<\/em>'s success, the writing was on the wall. This was low-hanging fruit. This was handed to Disney on a silver platter in a way that they'd be silly to neglect. Elsa had icy powers. This was the resort's iconic structure that turned to ice every Christmas season. It made sense for Elsa to now be included in the annual event. The way in which she was included, though, could have been handled a bit differently, in my opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Turns out, Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf are visiting this kingdom for the holidays. (They sure do visit neighboring kingdoms often, huh?) They remark about how beautiful the decorations are everywhere, but notice that the castle is missing decor. \"Elsa!\" Anna exclaims. \"Wouldn't it be great if you used your frozen fractiley powers to cover the castle in ice and snow?!\" Elsa replies, \"Anna, I'd love to, but I can't. This isn't our home. We're just visiting and we have to be respectful to the people who live here.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That seems like a perfect cue for the person who DOES live here, right? Instead of Cinderella appearing and giving her blessing, though, Anna literally has the guests peer pressure Elsa into making graffiti on the castle. Ok, ok, so maybe this wasn't meant to be analyzed with such scrutiny, but I can't shake that this could've gone a little different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite this nitpicking, the brief ceremony is a delight. It peppers in clever phrases from <em>Frozen<\/em>'s script throughout its dialogue and includes pleasant orchestral versions of <em>Frozen<\/em> songs and Christmas tunes alike in what is basically an eight minutes of stalled anticipation for the lights to follow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The spectacle itself is still the same as it's always been since 2007. The lights are no different, and are beautiful as ever. Simply the \"turning on\" ceremony each night is now void of Cinderella. Will Elsa be convicted of trespassing charges this year?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Live-Hyperion.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Live-Hyperion\" class=\"wp-image-54651\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>3) <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em><br>Disney California Adventure (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If <em>A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/em> at Disney's Hollywood Studios swerves expectations in an underwhelming (yet endearingly quirky) way, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> at Disney California Adventure swerves expectations in an overwhelming way. It's practically a mini Broadway musical, clocking in at 55 minutes and with the costuming and production value of anything you'd hope to find in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, in the performance I attended, most of the jokes were met with minimal laughter. It would stand to reason that as many times audiences in the room have seen <em>Frozen<\/em> over and over, hearing the same jokes simply aren't funny anymore. However, this could've just been the show I was at and not a common issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though it's nearly flawless, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> holds a sour reputation among some for replacing the phenomenal <em>Aladdin \u2014<\/em> <em>A Musical Spectacular<\/em>, which had performed in this space since 2003 and <strong>did<\/strong> vary up its script with different material and even topical jokes for Genie based on current events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tokyo-Disneyland-Frozen-Fantasy.png\" alt=\"Anna-Elsa-Frozen-Fantasy-Tokyo-Disneyland\" class=\"wp-image-54652\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>2) <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy<\/em><\/strong><br><strong>Tokyo Disneyland (2015-2018<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Imagine <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> from Disney's Hollywood Studios on steroids. Or, perhaps more realistically, with a much bigger budget. That's what <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy <\/em>was at Tokyo Disneyland. This was a seasonal Frozen festival on a grand scale that honestly put Hollywood Studios to shame. With a stronger parade, more park-wide activities, and more impressive fireworks, this celebration lasted four years, with its final season ending last year in 2018. Its big claim to fame? This was the only place in any Disney park to date where you could see Prince Hans.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Ever-After.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Ever-After-Epcot\" class=\"wp-image-54653\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>1.) <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Out this entire list, this is the only item to be a ride. Everything else is some form of live entertainment. Because of the investment and longevity that comes with building a permanent ride as well as the trajectory of influence this particular ride set into motion, it makes the top of our countdown as #1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frozen Ever After is a boat ride taking place after the events of <em>Frozen<\/em>. It's \"winter in summer\" day, celebrating the day on the calendar that Anna saved Elsa with an act of true love. To commemorate, we're invited to take a boat tour of Arendelle. Along the way, we see plenty of familiar faces and even hear a few familiar tunes. This structure is unique from most classic Disney rides of this same style in that <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> doesn't simply retell the events from <em>Frozen<\/em>, though the nature of it is so similar that if you're not paying close attention, you might think it does that anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With stellar Audio-Animatronics figures and even a bit of thrill, <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> is one of Epcot's best attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The context surrounding the ride is particularly curious, though. It replaced <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, a longstanding ride celebrating Norwegian culture. Despite being located within the Norway pavilion and even using the same track layout as <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, <em>Frozen Ever After <\/em>doesn't even try to work in Norwegian heritage into its narrative. At first, this seemed to be a departure of form for Epcot. Now that we're a few years after its opening and we know what Disney's building next, though, the ride was actually a taste of a new era for Epcot, one less occupied with education and more focused on characters. Future attractions will bring <em>Ratatouille<\/em> to the France pavilion and <em>Mary Poppins<\/em> to the United Kingdom pavilion. Elsewhere in the park, a <em>Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em> roller coaster will open (though that, at least, has been promised to include educational value somewhere within it). Whether this new direction for Epcot is exciting or apocalyptic depends on who you ask, but the park is for certain in the middle of a transformation toward a new version of itself, and one might point the beginning of that transformation back to Frozen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen-1024x401.png\" alt=\"Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54654\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It should come as no surprise that, now being an established staple of the Disney fold, Frozen is continuing to be used, perhaps now even more than ever. Following Epcot's lead, multiple permanent attractions are currently in development for Disney theme parks around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why* it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Mickey-Friendship-Faire.jpeg\" alt=\"Mickeys-Royal-Friendship-Faire\" class=\"wp-image-54649\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>6) <em>Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This stage show in front of Cinderella Castle incidentally celebrates, in chronological order, the peak films of the Disney Revival: <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), and <em>Frozen<\/em> (2013). In context of our <em>Frozen <\/em>countdown, the most fascinating quality that Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire offers is the interactions of Mickey and the gang with the royalty of the Disney animated films. Unlike, say, Cinderella or Peter Pan, who Mickey has seen often and seems to know quite well, this show presents each character as the first time they've ever been part of a Disney spectacle like this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This means that we literally get to see Anna, Elsa, and Olaf introduce themselves to Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Think about the magnitude of that sentence. These are generations of Disney coming together before our eyes, tangibly greeting one another for the very first time. As a fan, this is an interesting opportunity and not one that I think many expected to be part of this show's proceedings when it opened in 2016. Also of note is that Minnie has heard of Anna and Elsa. In fact, she's a fangirl. Mickey's set up the sisters' arrival as a surprise to Minnie, and the mouse, like many in the audience, goes crazy. \"From the moment I heard your story, I admired you both so much.\" So did we.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/First-Time-In-Forever.jpg\" alt=\"First-Time-In-Forever-Frozen-Sing-Along-Celebration\" class=\"wp-image-54650\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>5) <\/strong><em><strong>For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/strong><\/em><strong><br>Disney's Hollywood Studios (2014-present)<br>Disney California Adventure (2015-2016<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This show is a carry-over from the temporary <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> (see above) that guests enjoyed so much at Disney's Hollywood Studios that Disney decided to make it permanent. That being said, it has the feel of something that didn't know it would be around for a long time. I'm not sure what guests expect upon entering For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration. Despite the words \"sing-along\" being in the title, I don't think many people expect the show to actually be as simple as watching clips from Frozen on a screen and singing along while narrators provide commentary. Yes, it has brief live appearances from Frozen characters, but this is not a full-scale musical retelling of the film as guests might expect from the precedence set by other shows throughout the park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That being said, the premise on paper sounds a lot more boring than the captivating presentation that ensues in person. The sing-along aspect is fun. The narrators are hilarious. The informal nature of the proceedings help us relax a bit; we needn't be on our best behavior as with most \"shows.\" While some may have expected or even preferred a more traditional musical or find it lazy to seemingly pop in a DVD and press play, there's still value in the uniqueness of what happens here if you're willing to let yourself get as excited about it as the narrators are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In California, this show replaced <em>MuppetVision 3D<\/em>, but didn't last long. It closed when <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em>, a much grander production, opened in 2016. The theater where the sing-along was held was a preview center for new Disney films for a few years. Today, it presents <em>Mickey's PhilharMagic<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Frozen-Holiday-Wish.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Holiday-Wish-Magic-Kingdom\" class=\"wp-image-21933\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>4) <em>A Frozen Holiday Wish<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2014-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember when I said <em>Frozen<\/em> sometimes displaced things? Yeeeaaaahhh. Buckle up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beginning in 2007, Disney adorned Cinderella Castle each Christmas season with gorgeous icicle lights. Photos don't do them justice. They're breathtaking. Every night, the lights would magically turn on for the evening with the help of Cinderella and her Fairy Godmother. This is, after all, Cinderella's home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon <em>Frozen<\/em>'s success, the writing was on the wall. This was low-hanging fruit. This was handed to Disney on a silver platter in a way that they'd be silly to neglect. Elsa had icy powers. This was the resort's iconic structure that turned to ice every Christmas season. It made sense for Elsa to now be included in the annual event. The way in which she was included, though, could have been handled a bit differently, in my opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Turns out, Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf are visiting this kingdom for the holidays. (They sure do visit neighboring kingdoms often, huh?) They remark about how beautiful the decorations are everywhere, but notice that the castle is missing decor. \"Elsa!\" Anna exclaims. \"Wouldn't it be great if you used your frozen fractiley powers to cover the castle in ice and snow?!\" Elsa replies, \"Anna, I'd love to, but I can't. This isn't our home. We're just visiting and we have to be respectful to the people who live here.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That seems like a perfect cue for the person who DOES live here, right? Instead of Cinderella appearing and giving her blessing, though, Anna literally has the guests peer pressure Elsa into making graffiti on the castle. Ok, ok, so maybe this wasn't meant to be analyzed with such scrutiny, but I can't shake that this could've gone a little different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite this nitpicking, the brief ceremony is a delight. It peppers in clever phrases from <em>Frozen<\/em>'s script throughout its dialogue and includes pleasant orchestral versions of <em>Frozen<\/em> songs and Christmas tunes alike in what is basically an eight minutes of stalled anticipation for the lights to follow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The spectacle itself is still the same as it's always been since 2007. The lights are no different, and are beautiful as ever. Simply the \"turning on\" ceremony each night is now void of Cinderella. Will Elsa be convicted of trespassing charges this year?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Live-Hyperion.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Live-Hyperion\" class=\"wp-image-54651\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>3) <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em><br>Disney California Adventure (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If <em>A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/em> at Disney's Hollywood Studios swerves expectations in an underwhelming (yet endearingly quirky) way, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> at Disney California Adventure swerves expectations in an overwhelming way. It's practically a mini Broadway musical, clocking in at 55 minutes and with the costuming and production value of anything you'd hope to find in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, in the performance I attended, most of the jokes were met with minimal laughter. It would stand to reason that as many times audiences in the room have seen <em>Frozen<\/em> over and over, hearing the same jokes simply aren't funny anymore. However, this could've just been the show I was at and not a common issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though it's nearly flawless, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> holds a sour reputation among some for replacing the phenomenal <em>Aladdin \u2014<\/em> <em>A Musical Spectacular<\/em>, which had performed in this space since 2003 and <strong>did<\/strong> vary up its script with different material and even topical jokes for Genie based on current events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tokyo-Disneyland-Frozen-Fantasy.png\" alt=\"Anna-Elsa-Frozen-Fantasy-Tokyo-Disneyland\" class=\"wp-image-54652\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>2) <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy<\/em><\/strong><br><strong>Tokyo Disneyland (2015-2018<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Imagine <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> from Disney's Hollywood Studios on steroids. Or, perhaps more realistically, with a much bigger budget. That's what <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy <\/em>was at Tokyo Disneyland. This was a seasonal Frozen festival on a grand scale that honestly put Hollywood Studios to shame. With a stronger parade, more park-wide activities, and more impressive fireworks, this celebration lasted four years, with its final season ending last year in 2018. Its big claim to fame? This was the only place in any Disney park to date where you could see Prince Hans.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Ever-After.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Ever-After-Epcot\" class=\"wp-image-54653\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>1.) <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Out this entire list, this is the only item to be a ride. Everything else is some form of live entertainment. Because of the investment and longevity that comes with building a permanent ride as well as the trajectory of influence this particular ride set into motion, it makes the top of our countdown as #1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frozen Ever After is a boat ride taking place after the events of <em>Frozen<\/em>. It's \"winter in summer\" day, celebrating the day on the calendar that Anna saved Elsa with an act of true love. To commemorate, we're invited to take a boat tour of Arendelle. Along the way, we see plenty of familiar faces and even hear a few familiar tunes. This structure is unique from most classic Disney rides of this same style in that <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> doesn't simply retell the events from <em>Frozen<\/em>, though the nature of it is so similar that if you're not paying close attention, you might think it does that anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With stellar Audio-Animatronics figures and even a bit of thrill, <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> is one of Epcot's best attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The context surrounding the ride is particularly curious, though. It replaced <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, a longstanding ride celebrating Norwegian culture. Despite being located within the Norway pavilion and even using the same track layout as <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, <em>Frozen Ever After <\/em>doesn't even try to work in Norwegian heritage into its narrative. At first, this seemed to be a departure of form for Epcot. Now that we're a few years after its opening and we know what Disney's building next, though, the ride was actually a taste of a new era for Epcot, one less occupied with education and more focused on characters. Future attractions will bring <em>Ratatouille<\/em> to the France pavilion and <em>Mary Poppins<\/em> to the United Kingdom pavilion. Elsewhere in the park, a <em>Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em> roller coaster will open (though that, at least, has been promised to include educational value somewhere within it). Whether this new direction for Epcot is exciting or apocalyptic depends on who you ask, but the park is for certain in the middle of a transformation toward a new version of itself, and one might point the beginning of that transformation back to Frozen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen-1024x401.png\" alt=\"Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54654\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It should come as no surprise that, now being an established staple of the Disney fold, Frozen is continuing to be used, perhaps now even more than ever. Following Epcot's lead, multiple permanent attractions are currently in development for Disney theme parks around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why* it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<p>Upon the opening of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> (don't worry, we'll get to it) at Epcot in 2016, <em>Royal Sommerhus<\/em> opened along with it as the permanent meet & greet location for Anna and Elsa. While essentially the attraction exists for the sole purpose of being a photo-op with Anna and Elsa, it does slightly build upon the world of Frozen in a new way that no movie shows us. This, as it's presented to us, is a summer home that Anna and Elsa's parents would take them for family visits. While in line, we even see remnants of the sisters' childhoods. It remains the forever home that Walt Disney World guests know they can always find Arendelle royalty all day long, every day, eliminating a wild goose chase to track down a photo as is the case with some characters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Mickey-Friendship-Faire.jpeg\" alt=\"Mickeys-Royal-Friendship-Faire\" class=\"wp-image-54649\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>6) <em>Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This stage show in front of Cinderella Castle incidentally celebrates, in chronological order, the peak films of the Disney Revival: <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), and <em>Frozen<\/em> (2013). In context of our <em>Frozen <\/em>countdown, the most fascinating quality that Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire offers is the interactions of Mickey and the gang with the royalty of the Disney animated films. Unlike, say, Cinderella or Peter Pan, who Mickey has seen often and seems to know quite well, this show presents each character as the first time they've ever been part of a Disney spectacle like this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This means that we literally get to see Anna, Elsa, and Olaf introduce themselves to Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Think about the magnitude of that sentence. These are generations of Disney coming together before our eyes, tangibly greeting one another for the very first time. As a fan, this is an interesting opportunity and not one that I think many expected to be part of this show's proceedings when it opened in 2016. Also of note is that Minnie has heard of Anna and Elsa. In fact, she's a fangirl. Mickey's set up the sisters' arrival as a surprise to Minnie, and the mouse, like many in the audience, goes crazy. \"From the moment I heard your story, I admired you both so much.\" So did we.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/First-Time-In-Forever.jpg\" alt=\"First-Time-In-Forever-Frozen-Sing-Along-Celebration\" class=\"wp-image-54650\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>5) <\/strong><em><strong>For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/strong><\/em><strong><br>Disney's Hollywood Studios (2014-present)<br>Disney California Adventure (2015-2016<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This show is a carry-over from the temporary <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> (see above) that guests enjoyed so much at Disney's Hollywood Studios that Disney decided to make it permanent. That being said, it has the feel of something that didn't know it would be around for a long time. I'm not sure what guests expect upon entering For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration. Despite the words \"sing-along\" being in the title, I don't think many people expect the show to actually be as simple as watching clips from Frozen on a screen and singing along while narrators provide commentary. Yes, it has brief live appearances from Frozen characters, but this is not a full-scale musical retelling of the film as guests might expect from the precedence set by other shows throughout the park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That being said, the premise on paper sounds a lot more boring than the captivating presentation that ensues in person. The sing-along aspect is fun. The narrators are hilarious. The informal nature of the proceedings help us relax a bit; we needn't be on our best behavior as with most \"shows.\" While some may have expected or even preferred a more traditional musical or find it lazy to seemingly pop in a DVD and press play, there's still value in the uniqueness of what happens here if you're willing to let yourself get as excited about it as the narrators are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In California, this show replaced <em>MuppetVision 3D<\/em>, but didn't last long. It closed when <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em>, a much grander production, opened in 2016. The theater where the sing-along was held was a preview center for new Disney films for a few years. Today, it presents <em>Mickey's PhilharMagic<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Frozen-Holiday-Wish.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Holiday-Wish-Magic-Kingdom\" class=\"wp-image-21933\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>4) <em>A Frozen Holiday Wish<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2014-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember when I said <em>Frozen<\/em> sometimes displaced things? Yeeeaaaahhh. Buckle up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beginning in 2007, Disney adorned Cinderella Castle each Christmas season with gorgeous icicle lights. Photos don't do them justice. They're breathtaking. Every night, the lights would magically turn on for the evening with the help of Cinderella and her Fairy Godmother. This is, after all, Cinderella's home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon <em>Frozen<\/em>'s success, the writing was on the wall. This was low-hanging fruit. This was handed to Disney on a silver platter in a way that they'd be silly to neglect. Elsa had icy powers. This was the resort's iconic structure that turned to ice every Christmas season. It made sense for Elsa to now be included in the annual event. The way in which she was included, though, could have been handled a bit differently, in my opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Turns out, Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf are visiting this kingdom for the holidays. (They sure do visit neighboring kingdoms often, huh?) They remark about how beautiful the decorations are everywhere, but notice that the castle is missing decor. \"Elsa!\" Anna exclaims. \"Wouldn't it be great if you used your frozen fractiley powers to cover the castle in ice and snow?!\" Elsa replies, \"Anna, I'd love to, but I can't. This isn't our home. We're just visiting and we have to be respectful to the people who live here.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That seems like a perfect cue for the person who DOES live here, right? Instead of Cinderella appearing and giving her blessing, though, Anna literally has the guests peer pressure Elsa into making graffiti on the castle. Ok, ok, so maybe this wasn't meant to be analyzed with such scrutiny, but I can't shake that this could've gone a little different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite this nitpicking, the brief ceremony is a delight. It peppers in clever phrases from <em>Frozen<\/em>'s script throughout its dialogue and includes pleasant orchestral versions of <em>Frozen<\/em> songs and Christmas tunes alike in what is basically an eight minutes of stalled anticipation for the lights to follow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The spectacle itself is still the same as it's always been since 2007. The lights are no different, and are beautiful as ever. Simply the \"turning on\" ceremony each night is now void of Cinderella. Will Elsa be convicted of trespassing charges this year?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Live-Hyperion.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Live-Hyperion\" class=\"wp-image-54651\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>3) <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em><br>Disney California Adventure (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If <em>A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/em> at Disney's Hollywood Studios swerves expectations in an underwhelming (yet endearingly quirky) way, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> at Disney California Adventure swerves expectations in an overwhelming way. It's practically a mini Broadway musical, clocking in at 55 minutes and with the costuming and production value of anything you'd hope to find in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, in the performance I attended, most of the jokes were met with minimal laughter. It would stand to reason that as many times audiences in the room have seen <em>Frozen<\/em> over and over, hearing the same jokes simply aren't funny anymore. However, this could've just been the show I was at and not a common issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though it's nearly flawless, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> holds a sour reputation among some for replacing the phenomenal <em>Aladdin \u2014<\/em> <em>A Musical Spectacular<\/em>, which had performed in this space since 2003 and <strong>did<\/strong> vary up its script with different material and even topical jokes for Genie based on current events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tokyo-Disneyland-Frozen-Fantasy.png\" alt=\"Anna-Elsa-Frozen-Fantasy-Tokyo-Disneyland\" class=\"wp-image-54652\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>2) <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy<\/em><\/strong><br><strong>Tokyo Disneyland (2015-2018<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Imagine <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> from Disney's Hollywood Studios on steroids. Or, perhaps more realistically, with a much bigger budget. That's what <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy <\/em>was at Tokyo Disneyland. This was a seasonal Frozen festival on a grand scale that honestly put Hollywood Studios to shame. With a stronger parade, more park-wide activities, and more impressive fireworks, this celebration lasted four years, with its final season ending last year in 2018. Its big claim to fame? This was the only place in any Disney park to date where you could see Prince Hans.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Ever-After.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Ever-After-Epcot\" class=\"wp-image-54653\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>1.) <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Out this entire list, this is the only item to be a ride. Everything else is some form of live entertainment. Because of the investment and longevity that comes with building a permanent ride as well as the trajectory of influence this particular ride set into motion, it makes the top of our countdown as #1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frozen Ever After is a boat ride taking place after the events of <em>Frozen<\/em>. It's \"winter in summer\" day, celebrating the day on the calendar that Anna saved Elsa with an act of true love. To commemorate, we're invited to take a boat tour of Arendelle. Along the way, we see plenty of familiar faces and even hear a few familiar tunes. This structure is unique from most classic Disney rides of this same style in that <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> doesn't simply retell the events from <em>Frozen<\/em>, though the nature of it is so similar that if you're not paying close attention, you might think it does that anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With stellar Audio-Animatronics figures and even a bit of thrill, <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> is one of Epcot's best attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The context surrounding the ride is particularly curious, though. It replaced <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, a longstanding ride celebrating Norwegian culture. Despite being located within the Norway pavilion and even using the same track layout as <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, <em>Frozen Ever After <\/em>doesn't even try to work in Norwegian heritage into its narrative. At first, this seemed to be a departure of form for Epcot. Now that we're a few years after its opening and we know what Disney's building next, though, the ride was actually a taste of a new era for Epcot, one less occupied with education and more focused on characters. Future attractions will bring <em>Ratatouille<\/em> to the France pavilion and <em>Mary Poppins<\/em> to the United Kingdom pavilion. Elsewhere in the park, a <em>Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em> roller coaster will open (though that, at least, has been promised to include educational value somewhere within it). Whether this new direction for Epcot is exciting or apocalyptic depends on who you ask, but the park is for certain in the middle of a transformation toward a new version of itself, and one might point the beginning of that transformation back to Frozen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen-1024x401.png\" alt=\"Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54654\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It should come as no surprise that, now being an established staple of the Disney fold, Frozen is continuing to be used, perhaps now even more than ever. Following Epcot's lead, multiple permanent attractions are currently in development for Disney theme parks around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why* it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<p>We've established that Disney park guests went gaga when Anna and Elsa showed up anywhere. So of course, the ultimate souvenir from a Disney trip at the peak of <em>Frozen<\/em> pandemonium was a family photo with the famous sisters. The demand, though, became overwhelming. At the time of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release, Anna and Elsa were crammed into a small room in Epcot's Norway pavilion (unknowingly a prophecy of things later to come). Lines became too long for even Disney to properly manage at this location, so the sisters were moved to Magic Kingdom's <em>Princess Fairytale Hall<\/em>, a spot that has much more capacity to hold large volumes of waiting guests and can get them through the line quicker thanks to some Disney magic behind the scenes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon the opening of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> (don't worry, we'll get to it) at Epcot in 2016, <em>Royal Sommerhus<\/em> opened along with it as the permanent meet & greet location for Anna and Elsa. While essentially the attraction exists for the sole purpose of being a photo-op with Anna and Elsa, it does slightly build upon the world of Frozen in a new way that no movie shows us. This, as it's presented to us, is a summer home that Anna and Elsa's parents would take them for family visits. While in line, we even see remnants of the sisters' childhoods. It remains the forever home that Walt Disney World guests know they can always find Arendelle royalty all day long, every day, eliminating a wild goose chase to track down a photo as is the case with some characters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Mickey-Friendship-Faire.jpeg\" alt=\"Mickeys-Royal-Friendship-Faire\" class=\"wp-image-54649\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>6) <em>Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This stage show in front of Cinderella Castle incidentally celebrates, in chronological order, the peak films of the Disney Revival: <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), and <em>Frozen<\/em> (2013). In context of our <em>Frozen <\/em>countdown, the most fascinating quality that Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire offers is the interactions of Mickey and the gang with the royalty of the Disney animated films. Unlike, say, Cinderella or Peter Pan, who Mickey has seen often and seems to know quite well, this show presents each character as the first time they've ever been part of a Disney spectacle like this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This means that we literally get to see Anna, Elsa, and Olaf introduce themselves to Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Think about the magnitude of that sentence. These are generations of Disney coming together before our eyes, tangibly greeting one another for the very first time. As a fan, this is an interesting opportunity and not one that I think many expected to be part of this show's proceedings when it opened in 2016. Also of note is that Minnie has heard of Anna and Elsa. In fact, she's a fangirl. Mickey's set up the sisters' arrival as a surprise to Minnie, and the mouse, like many in the audience, goes crazy. \"From the moment I heard your story, I admired you both so much.\" So did we.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/First-Time-In-Forever.jpg\" alt=\"First-Time-In-Forever-Frozen-Sing-Along-Celebration\" class=\"wp-image-54650\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>5) <\/strong><em><strong>For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/strong><\/em><strong><br>Disney's Hollywood Studios (2014-present)<br>Disney California Adventure (2015-2016<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This show is a carry-over from the temporary <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> (see above) that guests enjoyed so much at Disney's Hollywood Studios that Disney decided to make it permanent. That being said, it has the feel of something that didn't know it would be around for a long time. I'm not sure what guests expect upon entering For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration. Despite the words \"sing-along\" being in the title, I don't think many people expect the show to actually be as simple as watching clips from Frozen on a screen and singing along while narrators provide commentary. Yes, it has brief live appearances from Frozen characters, but this is not a full-scale musical retelling of the film as guests might expect from the precedence set by other shows throughout the park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That being said, the premise on paper sounds a lot more boring than the captivating presentation that ensues in person. The sing-along aspect is fun. The narrators are hilarious. The informal nature of the proceedings help us relax a bit; we needn't be on our best behavior as with most \"shows.\" While some may have expected or even preferred a more traditional musical or find it lazy to seemingly pop in a DVD and press play, there's still value in the uniqueness of what happens here if you're willing to let yourself get as excited about it as the narrators are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In California, this show replaced <em>MuppetVision 3D<\/em>, but didn't last long. It closed when <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em>, a much grander production, opened in 2016. The theater where the sing-along was held was a preview center for new Disney films for a few years. Today, it presents <em>Mickey's PhilharMagic<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Frozen-Holiday-Wish.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Holiday-Wish-Magic-Kingdom\" class=\"wp-image-21933\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>4) <em>A Frozen Holiday Wish<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2014-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember when I said <em>Frozen<\/em> sometimes displaced things? Yeeeaaaahhh. Buckle up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beginning in 2007, Disney adorned Cinderella Castle each Christmas season with gorgeous icicle lights. Photos don't do them justice. They're breathtaking. Every night, the lights would magically turn on for the evening with the help of Cinderella and her Fairy Godmother. This is, after all, Cinderella's home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon <em>Frozen<\/em>'s success, the writing was on the wall. This was low-hanging fruit. This was handed to Disney on a silver platter in a way that they'd be silly to neglect. Elsa had icy powers. This was the resort's iconic structure that turned to ice every Christmas season. It made sense for Elsa to now be included in the annual event. The way in which she was included, though, could have been handled a bit differently, in my opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Turns out, Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf are visiting this kingdom for the holidays. (They sure do visit neighboring kingdoms often, huh?) They remark about how beautiful the decorations are everywhere, but notice that the castle is missing decor. \"Elsa!\" Anna exclaims. \"Wouldn't it be great if you used your frozen fractiley powers to cover the castle in ice and snow?!\" Elsa replies, \"Anna, I'd love to, but I can't. This isn't our home. We're just visiting and we have to be respectful to the people who live here.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That seems like a perfect cue for the person who DOES live here, right? Instead of Cinderella appearing and giving her blessing, though, Anna literally has the guests peer pressure Elsa into making graffiti on the castle. Ok, ok, so maybe this wasn't meant to be analyzed with such scrutiny, but I can't shake that this could've gone a little different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite this nitpicking, the brief ceremony is a delight. It peppers in clever phrases from <em>Frozen<\/em>'s script throughout its dialogue and includes pleasant orchestral versions of <em>Frozen<\/em> songs and Christmas tunes alike in what is basically an eight minutes of stalled anticipation for the lights to follow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The spectacle itself is still the same as it's always been since 2007. The lights are no different, and are beautiful as ever. Simply the \"turning on\" ceremony each night is now void of Cinderella. Will Elsa be convicted of trespassing charges this year?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Live-Hyperion.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Live-Hyperion\" class=\"wp-image-54651\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>3) <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em><br>Disney California Adventure (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If <em>A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/em> at Disney's Hollywood Studios swerves expectations in an underwhelming (yet endearingly quirky) way, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> at Disney California Adventure swerves expectations in an overwhelming way. It's practically a mini Broadway musical, clocking in at 55 minutes and with the costuming and production value of anything you'd hope to find in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, in the performance I attended, most of the jokes were met with minimal laughter. It would stand to reason that as many times audiences in the room have seen <em>Frozen<\/em> over and over, hearing the same jokes simply aren't funny anymore. However, this could've just been the show I was at and not a common issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though it's nearly flawless, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> holds a sour reputation among some for replacing the phenomenal <em>Aladdin \u2014<\/em> <em>A Musical Spectacular<\/em>, which had performed in this space since 2003 and <strong>did<\/strong> vary up its script with different material and even topical jokes for Genie based on current events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tokyo-Disneyland-Frozen-Fantasy.png\" alt=\"Anna-Elsa-Frozen-Fantasy-Tokyo-Disneyland\" class=\"wp-image-54652\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>2) <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy<\/em><\/strong><br><strong>Tokyo Disneyland (2015-2018<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Imagine <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> from Disney's Hollywood Studios on steroids. Or, perhaps more realistically, with a much bigger budget. That's what <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy <\/em>was at Tokyo Disneyland. This was a seasonal Frozen festival on a grand scale that honestly put Hollywood Studios to shame. With a stronger parade, more park-wide activities, and more impressive fireworks, this celebration lasted four years, with its final season ending last year in 2018. Its big claim to fame? This was the only place in any Disney park to date where you could see Prince Hans.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Ever-After.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Ever-After-Epcot\" class=\"wp-image-54653\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>1.) <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Out this entire list, this is the only item to be a ride. Everything else is some form of live entertainment. Because of the investment and longevity that comes with building a permanent ride as well as the trajectory of influence this particular ride set into motion, it makes the top of our countdown as #1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frozen Ever After is a boat ride taking place after the events of <em>Frozen<\/em>. It's \"winter in summer\" day, celebrating the day on the calendar that Anna saved Elsa with an act of true love. To commemorate, we're invited to take a boat tour of Arendelle. Along the way, we see plenty of familiar faces and even hear a few familiar tunes. This structure is unique from most classic Disney rides of this same style in that <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> doesn't simply retell the events from <em>Frozen<\/em>, though the nature of it is so similar that if you're not paying close attention, you might think it does that anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With stellar Audio-Animatronics figures and even a bit of thrill, <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> is one of Epcot's best attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The context surrounding the ride is particularly curious, though. It replaced <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, a longstanding ride celebrating Norwegian culture. Despite being located within the Norway pavilion and even using the same track layout as <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, <em>Frozen Ever After <\/em>doesn't even try to work in Norwegian heritage into its narrative. At first, this seemed to be a departure of form for Epcot. Now that we're a few years after its opening and we know what Disney's building next, though, the ride was actually a taste of a new era for Epcot, one less occupied with education and more focused on characters. Future attractions will bring <em>Ratatouille<\/em> to the France pavilion and <em>Mary Poppins<\/em> to the United Kingdom pavilion. Elsewhere in the park, a <em>Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em> roller coaster will open (though that, at least, has been promised to include educational value somewhere within it). Whether this new direction for Epcot is exciting or apocalyptic depends on who you ask, but the park is for certain in the middle of a transformation toward a new version of itself, and one might point the beginning of that transformation back to Frozen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen-1024x401.png\" alt=\"Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54654\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It should come as no surprise that, now being an established staple of the Disney fold, Frozen is continuing to be used, perhaps now even more than ever. Following Epcot's lead, multiple permanent attractions are currently in development for Disney theme parks around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why* it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<h2><strong>7) <em>Royal Sommerhus<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We've established that Disney park guests went gaga when Anna and Elsa showed up anywhere. So of course, the ultimate souvenir from a Disney trip at the peak of <em>Frozen<\/em> pandemonium was a family photo with the famous sisters. The demand, though, became overwhelming. At the time of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release, Anna and Elsa were crammed into a small room in Epcot's Norway pavilion (unknowingly a prophecy of things later to come). Lines became too long for even Disney to properly manage at this location, so the sisters were moved to Magic Kingdom's <em>Princess Fairytale Hall<\/em>, a spot that has much more capacity to hold large volumes of waiting guests and can get them through the line quicker thanks to some Disney magic behind the scenes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon the opening of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> (don't worry, we'll get to it) at Epcot in 2016, <em>Royal Sommerhus<\/em> opened along with it as the permanent meet & greet location for Anna and Elsa. While essentially the attraction exists for the sole purpose of being a photo-op with Anna and Elsa, it does slightly build upon the world of Frozen in a new way that no movie shows us. This, as it's presented to us, is a summer home that Anna and Elsa's parents would take them for family visits. While in line, we even see remnants of the sisters' childhoods. It remains the forever home that Walt Disney World guests know they can always find Arendelle royalty all day long, every day, eliminating a wild goose chase to track down a photo as is the case with some characters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Mickey-Friendship-Faire.jpeg\" alt=\"Mickeys-Royal-Friendship-Faire\" class=\"wp-image-54649\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>6) <em>Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This stage show in front of Cinderella Castle incidentally celebrates, in chronological order, the peak films of the Disney Revival: <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), and <em>Frozen<\/em> (2013). In context of our <em>Frozen <\/em>countdown, the most fascinating quality that Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire offers is the interactions of Mickey and the gang with the royalty of the Disney animated films. Unlike, say, Cinderella or Peter Pan, who Mickey has seen often and seems to know quite well, this show presents each character as the first time they've ever been part of a Disney spectacle like this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This means that we literally get to see Anna, Elsa, and Olaf introduce themselves to Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Think about the magnitude of that sentence. These are generations of Disney coming together before our eyes, tangibly greeting one another for the very first time. As a fan, this is an interesting opportunity and not one that I think many expected to be part of this show's proceedings when it opened in 2016. Also of note is that Minnie has heard of Anna and Elsa. In fact, she's a fangirl. Mickey's set up the sisters' arrival as a surprise to Minnie, and the mouse, like many in the audience, goes crazy. \"From the moment I heard your story, I admired you both so much.\" So did we.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/First-Time-In-Forever.jpg\" alt=\"First-Time-In-Forever-Frozen-Sing-Along-Celebration\" class=\"wp-image-54650\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>5) <\/strong><em><strong>For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/strong><\/em><strong><br>Disney's Hollywood Studios (2014-present)<br>Disney California Adventure (2015-2016<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This show is a carry-over from the temporary <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> (see above) that guests enjoyed so much at Disney's Hollywood Studios that Disney decided to make it permanent. That being said, it has the feel of something that didn't know it would be around for a long time. I'm not sure what guests expect upon entering For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration. Despite the words \"sing-along\" being in the title, I don't think many people expect the show to actually be as simple as watching clips from Frozen on a screen and singing along while narrators provide commentary. Yes, it has brief live appearances from Frozen characters, but this is not a full-scale musical retelling of the film as guests might expect from the precedence set by other shows throughout the park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That being said, the premise on paper sounds a lot more boring than the captivating presentation that ensues in person. The sing-along aspect is fun. The narrators are hilarious. The informal nature of the proceedings help us relax a bit; we needn't be on our best behavior as with most \"shows.\" While some may have expected or even preferred a more traditional musical or find it lazy to seemingly pop in a DVD and press play, there's still value in the uniqueness of what happens here if you're willing to let yourself get as excited about it as the narrators are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In California, this show replaced <em>MuppetVision 3D<\/em>, but didn't last long. It closed when <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em>, a much grander production, opened in 2016. The theater where the sing-along was held was a preview center for new Disney films for a few years. Today, it presents <em>Mickey's PhilharMagic<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Frozen-Holiday-Wish.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Holiday-Wish-Magic-Kingdom\" class=\"wp-image-21933\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>4) <em>A Frozen Holiday Wish<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2014-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember when I said <em>Frozen<\/em> sometimes displaced things? Yeeeaaaahhh. Buckle up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beginning in 2007, Disney adorned Cinderella Castle each Christmas season with gorgeous icicle lights. Photos don't do them justice. They're breathtaking. Every night, the lights would magically turn on for the evening with the help of Cinderella and her Fairy Godmother. This is, after all, Cinderella's home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon <em>Frozen<\/em>'s success, the writing was on the wall. This was low-hanging fruit. This was handed to Disney on a silver platter in a way that they'd be silly to neglect. Elsa had icy powers. This was the resort's iconic structure that turned to ice every Christmas season. It made sense for Elsa to now be included in the annual event. The way in which she was included, though, could have been handled a bit differently, in my opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Turns out, Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf are visiting this kingdom for the holidays. (They sure do visit neighboring kingdoms often, huh?) They remark about how beautiful the decorations are everywhere, but notice that the castle is missing decor. \"Elsa!\" Anna exclaims. \"Wouldn't it be great if you used your frozen fractiley powers to cover the castle in ice and snow?!\" Elsa replies, \"Anna, I'd love to, but I can't. This isn't our home. We're just visiting and we have to be respectful to the people who live here.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That seems like a perfect cue for the person who DOES live here, right? Instead of Cinderella appearing and giving her blessing, though, Anna literally has the guests peer pressure Elsa into making graffiti on the castle. Ok, ok, so maybe this wasn't meant to be analyzed with such scrutiny, but I can't shake that this could've gone a little different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite this nitpicking, the brief ceremony is a delight. It peppers in clever phrases from <em>Frozen<\/em>'s script throughout its dialogue and includes pleasant orchestral versions of <em>Frozen<\/em> songs and Christmas tunes alike in what is basically an eight minutes of stalled anticipation for the lights to follow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The spectacle itself is still the same as it's always been since 2007. The lights are no different, and are beautiful as ever. Simply the \"turning on\" ceremony each night is now void of Cinderella. Will Elsa be convicted of trespassing charges this year?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Live-Hyperion.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Live-Hyperion\" class=\"wp-image-54651\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>3) <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em><br>Disney California Adventure (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If <em>A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/em> at Disney's Hollywood Studios swerves expectations in an underwhelming (yet endearingly quirky) way, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> at Disney California Adventure swerves expectations in an overwhelming way. It's practically a mini Broadway musical, clocking in at 55 minutes and with the costuming and production value of anything you'd hope to find in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, in the performance I attended, most of the jokes were met with minimal laughter. It would stand to reason that as many times audiences in the room have seen <em>Frozen<\/em> over and over, hearing the same jokes simply aren't funny anymore. However, this could've just been the show I was at and not a common issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though it's nearly flawless, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> holds a sour reputation among some for replacing the phenomenal <em>Aladdin \u2014<\/em> <em>A Musical Spectacular<\/em>, which had performed in this space since 2003 and <strong>did<\/strong> vary up its script with different material and even topical jokes for Genie based on current events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tokyo-Disneyland-Frozen-Fantasy.png\" alt=\"Anna-Elsa-Frozen-Fantasy-Tokyo-Disneyland\" class=\"wp-image-54652\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>2) <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy<\/em><\/strong><br><strong>Tokyo Disneyland (2015-2018<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Imagine <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> from Disney's Hollywood Studios on steroids. Or, perhaps more realistically, with a much bigger budget. That's what <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy <\/em>was at Tokyo Disneyland. This was a seasonal Frozen festival on a grand scale that honestly put Hollywood Studios to shame. With a stronger parade, more park-wide activities, and more impressive fireworks, this celebration lasted four years, with its final season ending last year in 2018. Its big claim to fame? This was the only place in any Disney park to date where you could see Prince Hans.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Ever-After.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Ever-After-Epcot\" class=\"wp-image-54653\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>1.) <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Out this entire list, this is the only item to be a ride. Everything else is some form of live entertainment. Because of the investment and longevity that comes with building a permanent ride as well as the trajectory of influence this particular ride set into motion, it makes the top of our countdown as #1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frozen Ever After is a boat ride taking place after the events of <em>Frozen<\/em>. It's \"winter in summer\" day, celebrating the day on the calendar that Anna saved Elsa with an act of true love. To commemorate, we're invited to take a boat tour of Arendelle. Along the way, we see plenty of familiar faces and even hear a few familiar tunes. This structure is unique from most classic Disney rides of this same style in that <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> doesn't simply retell the events from <em>Frozen<\/em>, though the nature of it is so similar that if you're not paying close attention, you might think it does that anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With stellar Audio-Animatronics figures and even a bit of thrill, <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> is one of Epcot's best attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The context surrounding the ride is particularly curious, though. It replaced <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, a longstanding ride celebrating Norwegian culture. Despite being located within the Norway pavilion and even using the same track layout as <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, <em>Frozen Ever After <\/em>doesn't even try to work in Norwegian heritage into its narrative. At first, this seemed to be a departure of form for Epcot. Now that we're a few years after its opening and we know what Disney's building next, though, the ride was actually a taste of a new era for Epcot, one less occupied with education and more focused on characters. Future attractions will bring <em>Ratatouille<\/em> to the France pavilion and <em>Mary Poppins<\/em> to the United Kingdom pavilion. Elsewhere in the park, a <em>Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em> roller coaster will open (though that, at least, has been promised to include educational value somewhere within it). Whether this new direction for Epcot is exciting or apocalyptic depends on who you ask, but the park is for certain in the middle of a transformation toward a new version of itself, and one might point the beginning of that transformation back to Frozen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen-1024x401.png\" alt=\"Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54654\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It should come as no surprise that, now being an established staple of the Disney fold, Frozen is continuing to be used, perhaps now even more than ever. Following Epcot's lead, multiple permanent attractions are currently in development for Disney theme parks around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why* it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Royal-Sommerhus.jpg\" alt=\"Epcot-Royal-Sommerhus\" class=\"wp-image-54648\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>7) <em>Royal Sommerhus<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We've established that Disney park guests went gaga when Anna and Elsa showed up anywhere. So of course, the ultimate souvenir from a Disney trip at the peak of <em>Frozen<\/em> pandemonium was a family photo with the famous sisters. The demand, though, became overwhelming. At the time of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release, Anna and Elsa were crammed into a small room in Epcot's Norway pavilion (unknowingly a prophecy of things later to come). Lines became too long for even Disney to properly manage at this location, so the sisters were moved to Magic Kingdom's <em>Princess Fairytale Hall<\/em>, a spot that has much more capacity to hold large volumes of waiting guests and can get them through the line quicker thanks to some Disney magic behind the scenes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon the opening of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> (don't worry, we'll get to it) at Epcot in 2016, <em>Royal Sommerhus<\/em> opened along with it as the permanent meet & greet location for Anna and Elsa. While essentially the attraction exists for the sole purpose of being a photo-op with Anna and Elsa, it does slightly build upon the world of Frozen in a new way that no movie shows us. This, as it's presented to us, is a summer home that Anna and Elsa's parents would take them for family visits. While in line, we even see remnants of the sisters' childhoods. It remains the forever home that Walt Disney World guests know they can always find Arendelle royalty all day long, every day, eliminating a wild goose chase to track down a photo as is the case with some characters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Mickey-Friendship-Faire.jpeg\" alt=\"Mickeys-Royal-Friendship-Faire\" class=\"wp-image-54649\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>6) <em>Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This stage show in front of Cinderella Castle incidentally celebrates, in chronological order, the peak films of the Disney Revival: <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), and <em>Frozen<\/em> (2013). In context of our <em>Frozen <\/em>countdown, the most fascinating quality that Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire offers is the interactions of Mickey and the gang with the royalty of the Disney animated films. Unlike, say, Cinderella or Peter Pan, who Mickey has seen often and seems to know quite well, this show presents each character as the first time they've ever been part of a Disney spectacle like this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This means that we literally get to see Anna, Elsa, and Olaf introduce themselves to Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Think about the magnitude of that sentence. These are generations of Disney coming together before our eyes, tangibly greeting one another for the very first time. As a fan, this is an interesting opportunity and not one that I think many expected to be part of this show's proceedings when it opened in 2016. Also of note is that Minnie has heard of Anna and Elsa. In fact, she's a fangirl. Mickey's set up the sisters' arrival as a surprise to Minnie, and the mouse, like many in the audience, goes crazy. \"From the moment I heard your story, I admired you both so much.\" So did we.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/First-Time-In-Forever.jpg\" alt=\"First-Time-In-Forever-Frozen-Sing-Along-Celebration\" class=\"wp-image-54650\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>5) <\/strong><em><strong>For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/strong><\/em><strong><br>Disney's Hollywood Studios (2014-present)<br>Disney California Adventure (2015-2016<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This show is a carry-over from the temporary <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> (see above) that guests enjoyed so much at Disney's Hollywood Studios that Disney decided to make it permanent. That being said, it has the feel of something that didn't know it would be around for a long time. I'm not sure what guests expect upon entering For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration. Despite the words \"sing-along\" being in the title, I don't think many people expect the show to actually be as simple as watching clips from Frozen on a screen and singing along while narrators provide commentary. Yes, it has brief live appearances from Frozen characters, but this is not a full-scale musical retelling of the film as guests might expect from the precedence set by other shows throughout the park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That being said, the premise on paper sounds a lot more boring than the captivating presentation that ensues in person. The sing-along aspect is fun. The narrators are hilarious. The informal nature of the proceedings help us relax a bit; we needn't be on our best behavior as with most \"shows.\" While some may have expected or even preferred a more traditional musical or find it lazy to seemingly pop in a DVD and press play, there's still value in the uniqueness of what happens here if you're willing to let yourself get as excited about it as the narrators are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In California, this show replaced <em>MuppetVision 3D<\/em>, but didn't last long. It closed when <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em>, a much grander production, opened in 2016. The theater where the sing-along was held was a preview center for new Disney films for a few years. Today, it presents <em>Mickey's PhilharMagic<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Frozen-Holiday-Wish.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Holiday-Wish-Magic-Kingdom\" class=\"wp-image-21933\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>4) <em>A Frozen Holiday Wish<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2014-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember when I said <em>Frozen<\/em> sometimes displaced things? Yeeeaaaahhh. Buckle up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beginning in 2007, Disney adorned Cinderella Castle each Christmas season with gorgeous icicle lights. Photos don't do them justice. They're breathtaking. Every night, the lights would magically turn on for the evening with the help of Cinderella and her Fairy Godmother. This is, after all, Cinderella's home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon <em>Frozen<\/em>'s success, the writing was on the wall. This was low-hanging fruit. This was handed to Disney on a silver platter in a way that they'd be silly to neglect. Elsa had icy powers. This was the resort's iconic structure that turned to ice every Christmas season. It made sense for Elsa to now be included in the annual event. The way in which she was included, though, could have been handled a bit differently, in my opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Turns out, Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf are visiting this kingdom for the holidays. (They sure do visit neighboring kingdoms often, huh?) They remark about how beautiful the decorations are everywhere, but notice that the castle is missing decor. \"Elsa!\" Anna exclaims. \"Wouldn't it be great if you used your frozen fractiley powers to cover the castle in ice and snow?!\" Elsa replies, \"Anna, I'd love to, but I can't. This isn't our home. We're just visiting and we have to be respectful to the people who live here.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That seems like a perfect cue for the person who DOES live here, right? Instead of Cinderella appearing and giving her blessing, though, Anna literally has the guests peer pressure Elsa into making graffiti on the castle. Ok, ok, so maybe this wasn't meant to be analyzed with such scrutiny, but I can't shake that this could've gone a little different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite this nitpicking, the brief ceremony is a delight. It peppers in clever phrases from <em>Frozen<\/em>'s script throughout its dialogue and includes pleasant orchestral versions of <em>Frozen<\/em> songs and Christmas tunes alike in what is basically an eight minutes of stalled anticipation for the lights to follow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The spectacle itself is still the same as it's always been since 2007. The lights are no different, and are beautiful as ever. Simply the \"turning on\" ceremony each night is now void of Cinderella. Will Elsa be convicted of trespassing charges this year?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Live-Hyperion.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Live-Hyperion\" class=\"wp-image-54651\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>3) <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em><br>Disney California Adventure (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If <em>A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/em> at Disney's Hollywood Studios swerves expectations in an underwhelming (yet endearingly quirky) way, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> at Disney California Adventure swerves expectations in an overwhelming way. It's practically a mini Broadway musical, clocking in at 55 minutes and with the costuming and production value of anything you'd hope to find in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, in the performance I attended, most of the jokes were met with minimal laughter. It would stand to reason that as many times audiences in the room have seen <em>Frozen<\/em> over and over, hearing the same jokes simply aren't funny anymore. However, this could've just been the show I was at and not a common issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though it's nearly flawless, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> holds a sour reputation among some for replacing the phenomenal <em>Aladdin \u2014<\/em> <em>A Musical Spectacular<\/em>, which had performed in this space since 2003 and <strong>did<\/strong> vary up its script with different material and even topical jokes for Genie based on current events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tokyo-Disneyland-Frozen-Fantasy.png\" alt=\"Anna-Elsa-Frozen-Fantasy-Tokyo-Disneyland\" class=\"wp-image-54652\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>2) <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy<\/em><\/strong><br><strong>Tokyo Disneyland (2015-2018<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Imagine <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> from Disney's Hollywood Studios on steroids. Or, perhaps more realistically, with a much bigger budget. That's what <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy <\/em>was at Tokyo Disneyland. This was a seasonal Frozen festival on a grand scale that honestly put Hollywood Studios to shame. With a stronger parade, more park-wide activities, and more impressive fireworks, this celebration lasted four years, with its final season ending last year in 2018. Its big claim to fame? This was the only place in any Disney park to date where you could see Prince Hans.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Ever-After.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Ever-After-Epcot\" class=\"wp-image-54653\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>1.) <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Out this entire list, this is the only item to be a ride. Everything else is some form of live entertainment. Because of the investment and longevity that comes with building a permanent ride as well as the trajectory of influence this particular ride set into motion, it makes the top of our countdown as #1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frozen Ever After is a boat ride taking place after the events of <em>Frozen<\/em>. It's \"winter in summer\" day, celebrating the day on the calendar that Anna saved Elsa with an act of true love. To commemorate, we're invited to take a boat tour of Arendelle. Along the way, we see plenty of familiar faces and even hear a few familiar tunes. This structure is unique from most classic Disney rides of this same style in that <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> doesn't simply retell the events from <em>Frozen<\/em>, though the nature of it is so similar that if you're not paying close attention, you might think it does that anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With stellar Audio-Animatronics figures and even a bit of thrill, <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> is one of Epcot's best attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The context surrounding the ride is particularly curious, though. It replaced <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, a longstanding ride celebrating Norwegian culture. Despite being located within the Norway pavilion and even using the same track layout as <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, <em>Frozen Ever After <\/em>doesn't even try to work in Norwegian heritage into its narrative. At first, this seemed to be a departure of form for Epcot. Now that we're a few years after its opening and we know what Disney's building next, though, the ride was actually a taste of a new era for Epcot, one less occupied with education and more focused on characters. Future attractions will bring <em>Ratatouille<\/em> to the France pavilion and <em>Mary Poppins<\/em> to the United Kingdom pavilion. Elsewhere in the park, a <em>Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em> roller coaster will open (though that, at least, has been promised to include educational value somewhere within it). Whether this new direction for Epcot is exciting or apocalyptic depends on who you ask, but the park is for certain in the middle of a transformation toward a new version of itself, and one might point the beginning of that transformation back to Frozen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen-1024x401.png\" alt=\"Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54654\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It should come as no surprise that, now being an established staple of the Disney fold, Frozen is continuing to be used, perhaps now even more than ever. Following Epcot's lead, multiple permanent attractions are currently in development for Disney theme parks around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why* it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<p>This was the first big instance of Frozen forcing other Disney properties out of the way. As we'll see later on, it wouldn't be the last.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Royal-Sommerhus.jpg\" alt=\"Epcot-Royal-Sommerhus\" class=\"wp-image-54648\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>7) <em>Royal Sommerhus<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We've established that Disney park guests went gaga when Anna and Elsa showed up anywhere. So of course, the ultimate souvenir from a Disney trip at the peak of <em>Frozen<\/em> pandemonium was a family photo with the famous sisters. The demand, though, became overwhelming. At the time of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release, Anna and Elsa were crammed into a small room in Epcot's Norway pavilion (unknowingly a prophecy of things later to come). Lines became too long for even Disney to properly manage at this location, so the sisters were moved to Magic Kingdom's <em>Princess Fairytale Hall<\/em>, a spot that has much more capacity to hold large volumes of waiting guests and can get them through the line quicker thanks to some Disney magic behind the scenes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon the opening of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> (don't worry, we'll get to it) at Epcot in 2016, <em>Royal Sommerhus<\/em> opened along with it as the permanent meet & greet location for Anna and Elsa. While essentially the attraction exists for the sole purpose of being a photo-op with Anna and Elsa, it does slightly build upon the world of Frozen in a new way that no movie shows us. This, as it's presented to us, is a summer home that Anna and Elsa's parents would take them for family visits. While in line, we even see remnants of the sisters' childhoods. It remains the forever home that Walt Disney World guests know they can always find Arendelle royalty all day long, every day, eliminating a wild goose chase to track down a photo as is the case with some characters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Mickey-Friendship-Faire.jpeg\" alt=\"Mickeys-Royal-Friendship-Faire\" class=\"wp-image-54649\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>6) <em>Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This stage show in front of Cinderella Castle incidentally celebrates, in chronological order, the peak films of the Disney Revival: <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), and <em>Frozen<\/em> (2013). In context of our <em>Frozen <\/em>countdown, the most fascinating quality that Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire offers is the interactions of Mickey and the gang with the royalty of the Disney animated films. Unlike, say, Cinderella or Peter Pan, who Mickey has seen often and seems to know quite well, this show presents each character as the first time they've ever been part of a Disney spectacle like this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This means that we literally get to see Anna, Elsa, and Olaf introduce themselves to Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Think about the magnitude of that sentence. These are generations of Disney coming together before our eyes, tangibly greeting one another for the very first time. As a fan, this is an interesting opportunity and not one that I think many expected to be part of this show's proceedings when it opened in 2016. Also of note is that Minnie has heard of Anna and Elsa. In fact, she's a fangirl. Mickey's set up the sisters' arrival as a surprise to Minnie, and the mouse, like many in the audience, goes crazy. \"From the moment I heard your story, I admired you both so much.\" So did we.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/First-Time-In-Forever.jpg\" alt=\"First-Time-In-Forever-Frozen-Sing-Along-Celebration\" class=\"wp-image-54650\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>5) <\/strong><em><strong>For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/strong><\/em><strong><br>Disney's Hollywood Studios (2014-present)<br>Disney California Adventure (2015-2016<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This show is a carry-over from the temporary <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> (see above) that guests enjoyed so much at Disney's Hollywood Studios that Disney decided to make it permanent. That being said, it has the feel of something that didn't know it would be around for a long time. I'm not sure what guests expect upon entering For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration. Despite the words \"sing-along\" being in the title, I don't think many people expect the show to actually be as simple as watching clips from Frozen on a screen and singing along while narrators provide commentary. Yes, it has brief live appearances from Frozen characters, but this is not a full-scale musical retelling of the film as guests might expect from the precedence set by other shows throughout the park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That being said, the premise on paper sounds a lot more boring than the captivating presentation that ensues in person. The sing-along aspect is fun. The narrators are hilarious. The informal nature of the proceedings help us relax a bit; we needn't be on our best behavior as with most \"shows.\" While some may have expected or even preferred a more traditional musical or find it lazy to seemingly pop in a DVD and press play, there's still value in the uniqueness of what happens here if you're willing to let yourself get as excited about it as the narrators are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In California, this show replaced <em>MuppetVision 3D<\/em>, but didn't last long. It closed when <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em>, a much grander production, opened in 2016. The theater where the sing-along was held was a preview center for new Disney films for a few years. Today, it presents <em>Mickey's PhilharMagic<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Frozen-Holiday-Wish.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Holiday-Wish-Magic-Kingdom\" class=\"wp-image-21933\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>4) <em>A Frozen Holiday Wish<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2014-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember when I said <em>Frozen<\/em> sometimes displaced things? Yeeeaaaahhh. Buckle up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beginning in 2007, Disney adorned Cinderella Castle each Christmas season with gorgeous icicle lights. Photos don't do them justice. They're breathtaking. Every night, the lights would magically turn on for the evening with the help of Cinderella and her Fairy Godmother. This is, after all, Cinderella's home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon <em>Frozen<\/em>'s success, the writing was on the wall. This was low-hanging fruit. This was handed to Disney on a silver platter in a way that they'd be silly to neglect. Elsa had icy powers. This was the resort's iconic structure that turned to ice every Christmas season. It made sense for Elsa to now be included in the annual event. The way in which she was included, though, could have been handled a bit differently, in my opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Turns out, Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf are visiting this kingdom for the holidays. (They sure do visit neighboring kingdoms often, huh?) They remark about how beautiful the decorations are everywhere, but notice that the castle is missing decor. \"Elsa!\" Anna exclaims. \"Wouldn't it be great if you used your frozen fractiley powers to cover the castle in ice and snow?!\" Elsa replies, \"Anna, I'd love to, but I can't. This isn't our home. We're just visiting and we have to be respectful to the people who live here.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That seems like a perfect cue for the person who DOES live here, right? Instead of Cinderella appearing and giving her blessing, though, Anna literally has the guests peer pressure Elsa into making graffiti on the castle. Ok, ok, so maybe this wasn't meant to be analyzed with such scrutiny, but I can't shake that this could've gone a little different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite this nitpicking, the brief ceremony is a delight. It peppers in clever phrases from <em>Frozen<\/em>'s script throughout its dialogue and includes pleasant orchestral versions of <em>Frozen<\/em> songs and Christmas tunes alike in what is basically an eight minutes of stalled anticipation for the lights to follow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The spectacle itself is still the same as it's always been since 2007. The lights are no different, and are beautiful as ever. Simply the \"turning on\" ceremony each night is now void of Cinderella. Will Elsa be convicted of trespassing charges this year?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Live-Hyperion.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Live-Hyperion\" class=\"wp-image-54651\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>3) <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em><br>Disney California Adventure (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If <em>A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/em> at Disney's Hollywood Studios swerves expectations in an underwhelming (yet endearingly quirky) way, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> at Disney California Adventure swerves expectations in an overwhelming way. It's practically a mini Broadway musical, clocking in at 55 minutes and with the costuming and production value of anything you'd hope to find in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, in the performance I attended, most of the jokes were met with minimal laughter. It would stand to reason that as many times audiences in the room have seen <em>Frozen<\/em> over and over, hearing the same jokes simply aren't funny anymore. However, this could've just been the show I was at and not a common issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though it's nearly flawless, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> holds a sour reputation among some for replacing the phenomenal <em>Aladdin \u2014<\/em> <em>A Musical Spectacular<\/em>, which had performed in this space since 2003 and <strong>did<\/strong> vary up its script with different material and even topical jokes for Genie based on current events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tokyo-Disneyland-Frozen-Fantasy.png\" alt=\"Anna-Elsa-Frozen-Fantasy-Tokyo-Disneyland\" class=\"wp-image-54652\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>2) <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy<\/em><\/strong><br><strong>Tokyo Disneyland (2015-2018<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Imagine <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> from Disney's Hollywood Studios on steroids. Or, perhaps more realistically, with a much bigger budget. That's what <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy <\/em>was at Tokyo Disneyland. This was a seasonal Frozen festival on a grand scale that honestly put Hollywood Studios to shame. With a stronger parade, more park-wide activities, and more impressive fireworks, this celebration lasted four years, with its final season ending last year in 2018. Its big claim to fame? This was the only place in any Disney park to date where you could see Prince Hans.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Ever-After.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Ever-After-Epcot\" class=\"wp-image-54653\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>1.) <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Out this entire list, this is the only item to be a ride. Everything else is some form of live entertainment. Because of the investment and longevity that comes with building a permanent ride as well as the trajectory of influence this particular ride set into motion, it makes the top of our countdown as #1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frozen Ever After is a boat ride taking place after the events of <em>Frozen<\/em>. It's \"winter in summer\" day, celebrating the day on the calendar that Anna saved Elsa with an act of true love. To commemorate, we're invited to take a boat tour of Arendelle. Along the way, we see plenty of familiar faces and even hear a few familiar tunes. This structure is unique from most classic Disney rides of this same style in that <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> doesn't simply retell the events from <em>Frozen<\/em>, though the nature of it is so similar that if you're not paying close attention, you might think it does that anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With stellar Audio-Animatronics figures and even a bit of thrill, <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> is one of Epcot's best attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The context surrounding the ride is particularly curious, though. It replaced <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, a longstanding ride celebrating Norwegian culture. Despite being located within the Norway pavilion and even using the same track layout as <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, <em>Frozen Ever After <\/em>doesn't even try to work in Norwegian heritage into its narrative. At first, this seemed to be a departure of form for Epcot. Now that we're a few years after its opening and we know what Disney's building next, though, the ride was actually a taste of a new era for Epcot, one less occupied with education and more focused on characters. Future attractions will bring <em>Ratatouille<\/em> to the France pavilion and <em>Mary Poppins<\/em> to the United Kingdom pavilion. Elsewhere in the park, a <em>Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em> roller coaster will open (though that, at least, has been promised to include educational value somewhere within it). Whether this new direction for Epcot is exciting or apocalyptic depends on who you ask, but the park is for certain in the middle of a transformation toward a new version of itself, and one might point the beginning of that transformation back to Frozen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen-1024x401.png\" alt=\"Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54654\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It should come as no surprise that, now being an established staple of the Disney fold, Frozen is continuing to be used, perhaps now even more than ever. Following Epcot's lead, multiple permanent attractions are currently in development for Disney theme parks around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why* it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<p>Allow me to explain. When <em>Festival of Fantasy<\/em> debuted in spring 2014, it was slated to feature Princess Aurora on a garden float along with other Disney princesses. The soundtrack for that float even included \"Once Upon a Dream\" in its medley of princess songs. Then <em>Frozen<\/em> happened. People wanted to see Anna and Elsa when they came to Disney World, and would surely expect to see them in a new parade. But there wasn't enough time to include an entire <em>Frozen<\/em> float into the parade. It would have to be part of an existing unit. It would have to replace something already planned. Who got the boot? Princess Aurora. Her portion of the princess float was reconstructed to resemble Elsa's icy palace, and Anna and Elsa proudly rode upon it when the parade debuted. In an interesting twist, though, there wasn't enough time to record a new version of the parade's soundtrack before it debuted. So on opening day, the float still played \"Once Upon a Dream\" despite Aurora being completely absent. It wasn't until a few months later than the float would abridge its medley to include \"For the First Time In Forever\" and \"Let It Go.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This was the first big instance of Frozen forcing other Disney properties out of the way. As we'll see later on, it wouldn't be the last.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Royal-Sommerhus.jpg\" alt=\"Epcot-Royal-Sommerhus\" class=\"wp-image-54648\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>7) <em>Royal Sommerhus<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We've established that Disney park guests went gaga when Anna and Elsa showed up anywhere. So of course, the ultimate souvenir from a Disney trip at the peak of <em>Frozen<\/em> pandemonium was a family photo with the famous sisters. The demand, though, became overwhelming. At the time of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release, Anna and Elsa were crammed into a small room in Epcot's Norway pavilion (unknowingly a prophecy of things later to come). Lines became too long for even Disney to properly manage at this location, so the sisters were moved to Magic Kingdom's <em>Princess Fairytale Hall<\/em>, a spot that has much more capacity to hold large volumes of waiting guests and can get them through the line quicker thanks to some Disney magic behind the scenes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon the opening of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> (don't worry, we'll get to it) at Epcot in 2016, <em>Royal Sommerhus<\/em> opened along with it as the permanent meet & greet location for Anna and Elsa. While essentially the attraction exists for the sole purpose of being a photo-op with Anna and Elsa, it does slightly build upon the world of Frozen in a new way that no movie shows us. This, as it's presented to us, is a summer home that Anna and Elsa's parents would take them for family visits. While in line, we even see remnants of the sisters' childhoods. It remains the forever home that Walt Disney World guests know they can always find Arendelle royalty all day long, every day, eliminating a wild goose chase to track down a photo as is the case with some characters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Mickey-Friendship-Faire.jpeg\" alt=\"Mickeys-Royal-Friendship-Faire\" class=\"wp-image-54649\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>6) <em>Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This stage show in front of Cinderella Castle incidentally celebrates, in chronological order, the peak films of the Disney Revival: <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), and <em>Frozen<\/em> (2013). In context of our <em>Frozen <\/em>countdown, the most fascinating quality that Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire offers is the interactions of Mickey and the gang with the royalty of the Disney animated films. Unlike, say, Cinderella or Peter Pan, who Mickey has seen often and seems to know quite well, this show presents each character as the first time they've ever been part of a Disney spectacle like this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This means that we literally get to see Anna, Elsa, and Olaf introduce themselves to Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Think about the magnitude of that sentence. These are generations of Disney coming together before our eyes, tangibly greeting one another for the very first time. As a fan, this is an interesting opportunity and not one that I think many expected to be part of this show's proceedings when it opened in 2016. Also of note is that Minnie has heard of Anna and Elsa. In fact, she's a fangirl. Mickey's set up the sisters' arrival as a surprise to Minnie, and the mouse, like many in the audience, goes crazy. \"From the moment I heard your story, I admired you both so much.\" So did we.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/First-Time-In-Forever.jpg\" alt=\"First-Time-In-Forever-Frozen-Sing-Along-Celebration\" class=\"wp-image-54650\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>5) <\/strong><em><strong>For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/strong><\/em><strong><br>Disney's Hollywood Studios (2014-present)<br>Disney California Adventure (2015-2016<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This show is a carry-over from the temporary <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> (see above) that guests enjoyed so much at Disney's Hollywood Studios that Disney decided to make it permanent. That being said, it has the feel of something that didn't know it would be around for a long time. I'm not sure what guests expect upon entering For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration. Despite the words \"sing-along\" being in the title, I don't think many people expect the show to actually be as simple as watching clips from Frozen on a screen and singing along while narrators provide commentary. Yes, it has brief live appearances from Frozen characters, but this is not a full-scale musical retelling of the film as guests might expect from the precedence set by other shows throughout the park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That being said, the premise on paper sounds a lot more boring than the captivating presentation that ensues in person. The sing-along aspect is fun. The narrators are hilarious. The informal nature of the proceedings help us relax a bit; we needn't be on our best behavior as with most \"shows.\" While some may have expected or even preferred a more traditional musical or find it lazy to seemingly pop in a DVD and press play, there's still value in the uniqueness of what happens here if you're willing to let yourself get as excited about it as the narrators are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In California, this show replaced <em>MuppetVision 3D<\/em>, but didn't last long. It closed when <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em>, a much grander production, opened in 2016. The theater where the sing-along was held was a preview center for new Disney films for a few years. Today, it presents <em>Mickey's PhilharMagic<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Frozen-Holiday-Wish.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Holiday-Wish-Magic-Kingdom\" class=\"wp-image-21933\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>4) <em>A Frozen Holiday Wish<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2014-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember when I said <em>Frozen<\/em> sometimes displaced things? Yeeeaaaahhh. Buckle up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beginning in 2007, Disney adorned Cinderella Castle each Christmas season with gorgeous icicle lights. Photos don't do them justice. They're breathtaking. Every night, the lights would magically turn on for the evening with the help of Cinderella and her Fairy Godmother. This is, after all, Cinderella's home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon <em>Frozen<\/em>'s success, the writing was on the wall. This was low-hanging fruit. This was handed to Disney on a silver platter in a way that they'd be silly to neglect. Elsa had icy powers. This was the resort's iconic structure that turned to ice every Christmas season. It made sense for Elsa to now be included in the annual event. The way in which she was included, though, could have been handled a bit differently, in my opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Turns out, Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf are visiting this kingdom for the holidays. (They sure do visit neighboring kingdoms often, huh?) They remark about how beautiful the decorations are everywhere, but notice that the castle is missing decor. \"Elsa!\" Anna exclaims. \"Wouldn't it be great if you used your frozen fractiley powers to cover the castle in ice and snow?!\" Elsa replies, \"Anna, I'd love to, but I can't. This isn't our home. We're just visiting and we have to be respectful to the people who live here.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That seems like a perfect cue for the person who DOES live here, right? Instead of Cinderella appearing and giving her blessing, though, Anna literally has the guests peer pressure Elsa into making graffiti on the castle. Ok, ok, so maybe this wasn't meant to be analyzed with such scrutiny, but I can't shake that this could've gone a little different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite this nitpicking, the brief ceremony is a delight. It peppers in clever phrases from <em>Frozen<\/em>'s script throughout its dialogue and includes pleasant orchestral versions of <em>Frozen<\/em> songs and Christmas tunes alike in what is basically an eight minutes of stalled anticipation for the lights to follow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The spectacle itself is still the same as it's always been since 2007. The lights are no different, and are beautiful as ever. Simply the \"turning on\" ceremony each night is now void of Cinderella. Will Elsa be convicted of trespassing charges this year?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Live-Hyperion.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Live-Hyperion\" class=\"wp-image-54651\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>3) <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em><br>Disney California Adventure (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If <em>A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/em> at Disney's Hollywood Studios swerves expectations in an underwhelming (yet endearingly quirky) way, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> at Disney California Adventure swerves expectations in an overwhelming way. It's practically a mini Broadway musical, clocking in at 55 minutes and with the costuming and production value of anything you'd hope to find in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, in the performance I attended, most of the jokes were met with minimal laughter. It would stand to reason that as many times audiences in the room have seen <em>Frozen<\/em> over and over, hearing the same jokes simply aren't funny anymore. However, this could've just been the show I was at and not a common issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though it's nearly flawless, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> holds a sour reputation among some for replacing the phenomenal <em>Aladdin \u2014<\/em> <em>A Musical Spectacular<\/em>, which had performed in this space since 2003 and <strong>did<\/strong> vary up its script with different material and even topical jokes for Genie based on current events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tokyo-Disneyland-Frozen-Fantasy.png\" alt=\"Anna-Elsa-Frozen-Fantasy-Tokyo-Disneyland\" class=\"wp-image-54652\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>2) <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy<\/em><\/strong><br><strong>Tokyo Disneyland (2015-2018<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Imagine <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> from Disney's Hollywood Studios on steroids. Or, perhaps more realistically, with a much bigger budget. That's what <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy <\/em>was at Tokyo Disneyland. This was a seasonal Frozen festival on a grand scale that honestly put Hollywood Studios to shame. With a stronger parade, more park-wide activities, and more impressive fireworks, this celebration lasted four years, with its final season ending last year in 2018. Its big claim to fame? This was the only place in any Disney park to date where you could see Prince Hans.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Ever-After.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Ever-After-Epcot\" class=\"wp-image-54653\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>1.) <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Out this entire list, this is the only item to be a ride. Everything else is some form of live entertainment. Because of the investment and longevity that comes with building a permanent ride as well as the trajectory of influence this particular ride set into motion, it makes the top of our countdown as #1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frozen Ever After is a boat ride taking place after the events of <em>Frozen<\/em>. It's \"winter in summer\" day, celebrating the day on the calendar that Anna saved Elsa with an act of true love. To commemorate, we're invited to take a boat tour of Arendelle. Along the way, we see plenty of familiar faces and even hear a few familiar tunes. This structure is unique from most classic Disney rides of this same style in that <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> doesn't simply retell the events from <em>Frozen<\/em>, though the nature of it is so similar that if you're not paying close attention, you might think it does that anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With stellar Audio-Animatronics figures and even a bit of thrill, <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> is one of Epcot's best attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The context surrounding the ride is particularly curious, though. It replaced <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, a longstanding ride celebrating Norwegian culture. Despite being located within the Norway pavilion and even using the same track layout as <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, <em>Frozen Ever After <\/em>doesn't even try to work in Norwegian heritage into its narrative. At first, this seemed to be a departure of form for Epcot. Now that we're a few years after its opening and we know what Disney's building next, though, the ride was actually a taste of a new era for Epcot, one less occupied with education and more focused on characters. Future attractions will bring <em>Ratatouille<\/em> to the France pavilion and <em>Mary Poppins<\/em> to the United Kingdom pavilion. Elsewhere in the park, a <em>Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em> roller coaster will open (though that, at least, has been promised to include educational value somewhere within it). Whether this new direction for Epcot is exciting or apocalyptic depends on who you ask, but the park is for certain in the middle of a transformation toward a new version of itself, and one might point the beginning of that transformation back to Frozen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen-1024x401.png\" alt=\"Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54654\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It should come as no surprise that, now being an established staple of the Disney fold, Frozen is continuing to be used, perhaps now even more than ever. Following Epcot's lead, multiple permanent attractions are currently in development for Disney theme parks around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why* it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<p>It's true that Frozen is one of many films highlighted in Magic Kingdom's daily Festival of Fantasy Parade. The production is hardly exclusive to Arendellians, also featuring practically Disney's whole library of animated classics, from <em>Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs<\/em> to <em>Brave<\/em>. But it's <em>Frozen<\/em>'s influence within the parade that places it on this list. If we're talking about impact and influence, which we are, this is a prime example of <em>Frozen<\/em> beginning to misplace fellow Disney brethren, for better or for worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Allow me to explain. When <em>Festival of Fantasy<\/em> debuted in spring 2014, it was slated to feature Princess Aurora on a garden float along with other Disney princesses. The soundtrack for that float even included \"Once Upon a Dream\" in its medley of princess songs. Then <em>Frozen<\/em> happened. People wanted to see Anna and Elsa when they came to Disney World, and would surely expect to see them in a new parade. But there wasn't enough time to include an entire <em>Frozen<\/em> float into the parade. It would have to be part of an existing unit. It would have to replace something already planned. Who got the boot? Princess Aurora. Her portion of the princess float was reconstructed to resemble Elsa's icy palace, and Anna and Elsa proudly rode upon it when the parade debuted. In an interesting twist, though, there wasn't enough time to record a new version of the parade's soundtrack before it debuted. So on opening day, the float still played \"Once Upon a Dream\" despite Aurora being completely absent. It wasn't until a few months later than the float would abridge its medley to include \"For the First Time In Forever\" and \"Let It Go.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This was the first big instance of Frozen forcing other Disney properties out of the way. As we'll see later on, it wouldn't be the last.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Royal-Sommerhus.jpg\" alt=\"Epcot-Royal-Sommerhus\" class=\"wp-image-54648\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>7) <em>Royal Sommerhus<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We've established that Disney park guests went gaga when Anna and Elsa showed up anywhere. So of course, the ultimate souvenir from a Disney trip at the peak of <em>Frozen<\/em> pandemonium was a family photo with the famous sisters. The demand, though, became overwhelming. At the time of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release, Anna and Elsa were crammed into a small room in Epcot's Norway pavilion (unknowingly a prophecy of things later to come). Lines became too long for even Disney to properly manage at this location, so the sisters were moved to Magic Kingdom's <em>Princess Fairytale Hall<\/em>, a spot that has much more capacity to hold large volumes of waiting guests and can get them through the line quicker thanks to some Disney magic behind the scenes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon the opening of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> (don't worry, we'll get to it) at Epcot in 2016, <em>Royal Sommerhus<\/em> opened along with it as the permanent meet & greet location for Anna and Elsa. While essentially the attraction exists for the sole purpose of being a photo-op with Anna and Elsa, it does slightly build upon the world of Frozen in a new way that no movie shows us. This, as it's presented to us, is a summer home that Anna and Elsa's parents would take them for family visits. While in line, we even see remnants of the sisters' childhoods. It remains the forever home that Walt Disney World guests know they can always find Arendelle royalty all day long, every day, eliminating a wild goose chase to track down a photo as is the case with some characters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Mickey-Friendship-Faire.jpeg\" alt=\"Mickeys-Royal-Friendship-Faire\" class=\"wp-image-54649\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>6) <em>Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This stage show in front of Cinderella Castle incidentally celebrates, in chronological order, the peak films of the Disney Revival: <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), and <em>Frozen<\/em> (2013). In context of our <em>Frozen <\/em>countdown, the most fascinating quality that Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire offers is the interactions of Mickey and the gang with the royalty of the Disney animated films. Unlike, say, Cinderella or Peter Pan, who Mickey has seen often and seems to know quite well, this show presents each character as the first time they've ever been part of a Disney spectacle like this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This means that we literally get to see Anna, Elsa, and Olaf introduce themselves to Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Think about the magnitude of that sentence. These are generations of Disney coming together before our eyes, tangibly greeting one another for the very first time. As a fan, this is an interesting opportunity and not one that I think many expected to be part of this show's proceedings when it opened in 2016. Also of note is that Minnie has heard of Anna and Elsa. In fact, she's a fangirl. Mickey's set up the sisters' arrival as a surprise to Minnie, and the mouse, like many in the audience, goes crazy. \"From the moment I heard your story, I admired you both so much.\" So did we.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/First-Time-In-Forever.jpg\" alt=\"First-Time-In-Forever-Frozen-Sing-Along-Celebration\" class=\"wp-image-54650\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>5) <\/strong><em><strong>For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/strong><\/em><strong><br>Disney's Hollywood Studios (2014-present)<br>Disney California Adventure (2015-2016<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This show is a carry-over from the temporary <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> (see above) that guests enjoyed so much at Disney's Hollywood Studios that Disney decided to make it permanent. That being said, it has the feel of something that didn't know it would be around for a long time. I'm not sure what guests expect upon entering For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration. Despite the words \"sing-along\" being in the title, I don't think many people expect the show to actually be as simple as watching clips from Frozen on a screen and singing along while narrators provide commentary. Yes, it has brief live appearances from Frozen characters, but this is not a full-scale musical retelling of the film as guests might expect from the precedence set by other shows throughout the park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That being said, the premise on paper sounds a lot more boring than the captivating presentation that ensues in person. The sing-along aspect is fun. The narrators are hilarious. The informal nature of the proceedings help us relax a bit; we needn't be on our best behavior as with most \"shows.\" While some may have expected or even preferred a more traditional musical or find it lazy to seemingly pop in a DVD and press play, there's still value in the uniqueness of what happens here if you're willing to let yourself get as excited about it as the narrators are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In California, this show replaced <em>MuppetVision 3D<\/em>, but didn't last long. It closed when <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em>, a much grander production, opened in 2016. The theater where the sing-along was held was a preview center for new Disney films for a few years. Today, it presents <em>Mickey's PhilharMagic<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Frozen-Holiday-Wish.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Holiday-Wish-Magic-Kingdom\" class=\"wp-image-21933\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>4) <em>A Frozen Holiday Wish<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2014-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember when I said <em>Frozen<\/em> sometimes displaced things? Yeeeaaaahhh. Buckle up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beginning in 2007, Disney adorned Cinderella Castle each Christmas season with gorgeous icicle lights. Photos don't do them justice. They're breathtaking. Every night, the lights would magically turn on for the evening with the help of Cinderella and her Fairy Godmother. This is, after all, Cinderella's home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon <em>Frozen<\/em>'s success, the writing was on the wall. This was low-hanging fruit. This was handed to Disney on a silver platter in a way that they'd be silly to neglect. Elsa had icy powers. This was the resort's iconic structure that turned to ice every Christmas season. It made sense for Elsa to now be included in the annual event. The way in which she was included, though, could have been handled a bit differently, in my opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Turns out, Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf are visiting this kingdom for the holidays. (They sure do visit neighboring kingdoms often, huh?) They remark about how beautiful the decorations are everywhere, but notice that the castle is missing decor. \"Elsa!\" Anna exclaims. \"Wouldn't it be great if you used your frozen fractiley powers to cover the castle in ice and snow?!\" Elsa replies, \"Anna, I'd love to, but I can't. This isn't our home. We're just visiting and we have to be respectful to the people who live here.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That seems like a perfect cue for the person who DOES live here, right? Instead of Cinderella appearing and giving her blessing, though, Anna literally has the guests peer pressure Elsa into making graffiti on the castle. Ok, ok, so maybe this wasn't meant to be analyzed with such scrutiny, but I can't shake that this could've gone a little different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite this nitpicking, the brief ceremony is a delight. It peppers in clever phrases from <em>Frozen<\/em>'s script throughout its dialogue and includes pleasant orchestral versions of <em>Frozen<\/em> songs and Christmas tunes alike in what is basically an eight minutes of stalled anticipation for the lights to follow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The spectacle itself is still the same as it's always been since 2007. The lights are no different, and are beautiful as ever. Simply the \"turning on\" ceremony each night is now void of Cinderella. Will Elsa be convicted of trespassing charges this year?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Live-Hyperion.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Live-Hyperion\" class=\"wp-image-54651\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>3) <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em><br>Disney California Adventure (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If <em>A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/em> at Disney's Hollywood Studios swerves expectations in an underwhelming (yet endearingly quirky) way, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> at Disney California Adventure swerves expectations in an overwhelming way. It's practically a mini Broadway musical, clocking in at 55 minutes and with the costuming and production value of anything you'd hope to find in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, in the performance I attended, most of the jokes were met with minimal laughter. It would stand to reason that as many times audiences in the room have seen <em>Frozen<\/em> over and over, hearing the same jokes simply aren't funny anymore. However, this could've just been the show I was at and not a common issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though it's nearly flawless, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> holds a sour reputation among some for replacing the phenomenal <em>Aladdin \u2014<\/em> <em>A Musical Spectacular<\/em>, which had performed in this space since 2003 and <strong>did<\/strong> vary up its script with different material and even topical jokes for Genie based on current events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tokyo-Disneyland-Frozen-Fantasy.png\" alt=\"Anna-Elsa-Frozen-Fantasy-Tokyo-Disneyland\" class=\"wp-image-54652\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>2) <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy<\/em><\/strong><br><strong>Tokyo Disneyland (2015-2018<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Imagine <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> from Disney's Hollywood Studios on steroids. Or, perhaps more realistically, with a much bigger budget. That's what <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy <\/em>was at Tokyo Disneyland. This was a seasonal Frozen festival on a grand scale that honestly put Hollywood Studios to shame. With a stronger parade, more park-wide activities, and more impressive fireworks, this celebration lasted four years, with its final season ending last year in 2018. Its big claim to fame? This was the only place in any Disney park to date where you could see Prince Hans.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Ever-After.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Ever-After-Epcot\" class=\"wp-image-54653\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>1.) <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Out this entire list, this is the only item to be a ride. Everything else is some form of live entertainment. Because of the investment and longevity that comes with building a permanent ride as well as the trajectory of influence this particular ride set into motion, it makes the top of our countdown as #1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frozen Ever After is a boat ride taking place after the events of <em>Frozen<\/em>. It's \"winter in summer\" day, celebrating the day on the calendar that Anna saved Elsa with an act of true love. To commemorate, we're invited to take a boat tour of Arendelle. Along the way, we see plenty of familiar faces and even hear a few familiar tunes. This structure is unique from most classic Disney rides of this same style in that <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> doesn't simply retell the events from <em>Frozen<\/em>, though the nature of it is so similar that if you're not paying close attention, you might think it does that anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With stellar Audio-Animatronics figures and even a bit of thrill, <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> is one of Epcot's best attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The context surrounding the ride is particularly curious, though. It replaced <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, a longstanding ride celebrating Norwegian culture. Despite being located within the Norway pavilion and even using the same track layout as <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, <em>Frozen Ever After <\/em>doesn't even try to work in Norwegian heritage into its narrative. At first, this seemed to be a departure of form for Epcot. Now that we're a few years after its opening and we know what Disney's building next, though, the ride was actually a taste of a new era for Epcot, one less occupied with education and more focused on characters. Future attractions will bring <em>Ratatouille<\/em> to the France pavilion and <em>Mary Poppins<\/em> to the United Kingdom pavilion. Elsewhere in the park, a <em>Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em> roller coaster will open (though that, at least, has been promised to include educational value somewhere within it). Whether this new direction for Epcot is exciting or apocalyptic depends on who you ask, but the park is for certain in the middle of a transformation toward a new version of itself, and one might point the beginning of that transformation back to Frozen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen-1024x401.png\" alt=\"Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54654\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It should come as no surprise that, now being an established staple of the Disney fold, Frozen is continuing to be used, perhaps now even more than ever. Following Epcot's lead, multiple permanent attractions are currently in development for Disney theme parks around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why* it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<h2><strong>8) <em>Festival of Fantasy Parade<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2014-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It's true that Frozen is one of many films highlighted in Magic Kingdom's daily Festival of Fantasy Parade. The production is hardly exclusive to Arendellians, also featuring practically Disney's whole library of animated classics, from <em>Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs<\/em> to <em>Brave<\/em>. But it's <em>Frozen<\/em>'s influence within the parade that places it on this list. If we're talking about impact and influence, which we are, this is a prime example of <em>Frozen<\/em> beginning to misplace fellow Disney brethren, for better or for worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Allow me to explain. When <em>Festival of Fantasy<\/em> debuted in spring 2014, it was slated to feature Princess Aurora on a garden float along with other Disney princesses. The soundtrack for that float even included \"Once Upon a Dream\" in its medley of princess songs. Then <em>Frozen<\/em> happened. People wanted to see Anna and Elsa when they came to Disney World, and would surely expect to see them in a new parade. But there wasn't enough time to include an entire <em>Frozen<\/em> float into the parade. It would have to be part of an existing unit. It would have to replace something already planned. Who got the boot? Princess Aurora. Her portion of the princess float was reconstructed to resemble Elsa's icy palace, and Anna and Elsa proudly rode upon it when the parade debuted. In an interesting twist, though, there wasn't enough time to record a new version of the parade's soundtrack before it debuted. So on opening day, the float still played \"Once Upon a Dream\" despite Aurora being completely absent. It wasn't until a few months later than the float would abridge its medley to include \"For the First Time In Forever\" and \"Let It Go.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This was the first big instance of Frozen forcing other Disney properties out of the way. As we'll see later on, it wouldn't be the last.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Royal-Sommerhus.jpg\" alt=\"Epcot-Royal-Sommerhus\" class=\"wp-image-54648\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>7) <em>Royal Sommerhus<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We've established that Disney park guests went gaga when Anna and Elsa showed up anywhere. So of course, the ultimate souvenir from a Disney trip at the peak of <em>Frozen<\/em> pandemonium was a family photo with the famous sisters. The demand, though, became overwhelming. At the time of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release, Anna and Elsa were crammed into a small room in Epcot's Norway pavilion (unknowingly a prophecy of things later to come). Lines became too long for even Disney to properly manage at this location, so the sisters were moved to Magic Kingdom's <em>Princess Fairytale Hall<\/em>, a spot that has much more capacity to hold large volumes of waiting guests and can get them through the line quicker thanks to some Disney magic behind the scenes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon the opening of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> (don't worry, we'll get to it) at Epcot in 2016, <em>Royal Sommerhus<\/em> opened along with it as the permanent meet & greet location for Anna and Elsa. While essentially the attraction exists for the sole purpose of being a photo-op with Anna and Elsa, it does slightly build upon the world of Frozen in a new way that no movie shows us. This, as it's presented to us, is a summer home that Anna and Elsa's parents would take them for family visits. While in line, we even see remnants of the sisters' childhoods. It remains the forever home that Walt Disney World guests know they can always find Arendelle royalty all day long, every day, eliminating a wild goose chase to track down a photo as is the case with some characters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Mickey-Friendship-Faire.jpeg\" alt=\"Mickeys-Royal-Friendship-Faire\" class=\"wp-image-54649\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>6) <em>Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This stage show in front of Cinderella Castle incidentally celebrates, in chronological order, the peak films of the Disney Revival: <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), and <em>Frozen<\/em> (2013). In context of our <em>Frozen <\/em>countdown, the most fascinating quality that Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire offers is the interactions of Mickey and the gang with the royalty of the Disney animated films. Unlike, say, Cinderella or Peter Pan, who Mickey has seen often and seems to know quite well, this show presents each character as the first time they've ever been part of a Disney spectacle like this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This means that we literally get to see Anna, Elsa, and Olaf introduce themselves to Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Think about the magnitude of that sentence. These are generations of Disney coming together before our eyes, tangibly greeting one another for the very first time. As a fan, this is an interesting opportunity and not one that I think many expected to be part of this show's proceedings when it opened in 2016. Also of note is that Minnie has heard of Anna and Elsa. In fact, she's a fangirl. Mickey's set up the sisters' arrival as a surprise to Minnie, and the mouse, like many in the audience, goes crazy. \"From the moment I heard your story, I admired you both so much.\" So did we.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/First-Time-In-Forever.jpg\" alt=\"First-Time-In-Forever-Frozen-Sing-Along-Celebration\" class=\"wp-image-54650\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>5) <\/strong><em><strong>For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/strong><\/em><strong><br>Disney's Hollywood Studios (2014-present)<br>Disney California Adventure (2015-2016<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This show is a carry-over from the temporary <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> (see above) that guests enjoyed so much at Disney's Hollywood Studios that Disney decided to make it permanent. That being said, it has the feel of something that didn't know it would be around for a long time. I'm not sure what guests expect upon entering For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration. Despite the words \"sing-along\" being in the title, I don't think many people expect the show to actually be as simple as watching clips from Frozen on a screen and singing along while narrators provide commentary. Yes, it has brief live appearances from Frozen characters, but this is not a full-scale musical retelling of the film as guests might expect from the precedence set by other shows throughout the park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That being said, the premise on paper sounds a lot more boring than the captivating presentation that ensues in person. The sing-along aspect is fun. The narrators are hilarious. The informal nature of the proceedings help us relax a bit; we needn't be on our best behavior as with most \"shows.\" While some may have expected or even preferred a more traditional musical or find it lazy to seemingly pop in a DVD and press play, there's still value in the uniqueness of what happens here if you're willing to let yourself get as excited about it as the narrators are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In California, this show replaced <em>MuppetVision 3D<\/em>, but didn't last long. It closed when <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em>, a much grander production, opened in 2016. The theater where the sing-along was held was a preview center for new Disney films for a few years. Today, it presents <em>Mickey's PhilharMagic<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Frozen-Holiday-Wish.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Holiday-Wish-Magic-Kingdom\" class=\"wp-image-21933\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>4) <em>A Frozen Holiday Wish<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2014-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember when I said <em>Frozen<\/em> sometimes displaced things? Yeeeaaaahhh. Buckle up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beginning in 2007, Disney adorned Cinderella Castle each Christmas season with gorgeous icicle lights. Photos don't do them justice. They're breathtaking. Every night, the lights would magically turn on for the evening with the help of Cinderella and her Fairy Godmother. This is, after all, Cinderella's home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon <em>Frozen<\/em>'s success, the writing was on the wall. This was low-hanging fruit. This was handed to Disney on a silver platter in a way that they'd be silly to neglect. Elsa had icy powers. This was the resort's iconic structure that turned to ice every Christmas season. It made sense for Elsa to now be included in the annual event. The way in which she was included, though, could have been handled a bit differently, in my opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Turns out, Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf are visiting this kingdom for the holidays. (They sure do visit neighboring kingdoms often, huh?) They remark about how beautiful the decorations are everywhere, but notice that the castle is missing decor. \"Elsa!\" Anna exclaims. \"Wouldn't it be great if you used your frozen fractiley powers to cover the castle in ice and snow?!\" Elsa replies, \"Anna, I'd love to, but I can't. This isn't our home. We're just visiting and we have to be respectful to the people who live here.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That seems like a perfect cue for the person who DOES live here, right? Instead of Cinderella appearing and giving her blessing, though, Anna literally has the guests peer pressure Elsa into making graffiti on the castle. Ok, ok, so maybe this wasn't meant to be analyzed with such scrutiny, but I can't shake that this could've gone a little different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite this nitpicking, the brief ceremony is a delight. It peppers in clever phrases from <em>Frozen<\/em>'s script throughout its dialogue and includes pleasant orchestral versions of <em>Frozen<\/em> songs and Christmas tunes alike in what is basically an eight minutes of stalled anticipation for the lights to follow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The spectacle itself is still the same as it's always been since 2007. The lights are no different, and are beautiful as ever. Simply the \"turning on\" ceremony each night is now void of Cinderella. Will Elsa be convicted of trespassing charges this year?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Live-Hyperion.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Live-Hyperion\" class=\"wp-image-54651\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>3) <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em><br>Disney California Adventure (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If <em>A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/em> at Disney's Hollywood Studios swerves expectations in an underwhelming (yet endearingly quirky) way, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> at Disney California Adventure swerves expectations in an overwhelming way. It's practically a mini Broadway musical, clocking in at 55 minutes and with the costuming and production value of anything you'd hope to find in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, in the performance I attended, most of the jokes were met with minimal laughter. It would stand to reason that as many times audiences in the room have seen <em>Frozen<\/em> over and over, hearing the same jokes simply aren't funny anymore. However, this could've just been the show I was at and not a common issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though it's nearly flawless, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> holds a sour reputation among some for replacing the phenomenal <em>Aladdin \u2014<\/em> <em>A Musical Spectacular<\/em>, which had performed in this space since 2003 and <strong>did<\/strong> vary up its script with different material and even topical jokes for Genie based on current events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tokyo-Disneyland-Frozen-Fantasy.png\" alt=\"Anna-Elsa-Frozen-Fantasy-Tokyo-Disneyland\" class=\"wp-image-54652\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>2) <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy<\/em><\/strong><br><strong>Tokyo Disneyland (2015-2018<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Imagine <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> from Disney's Hollywood Studios on steroids. Or, perhaps more realistically, with a much bigger budget. That's what <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy <\/em>was at Tokyo Disneyland. This was a seasonal Frozen festival on a grand scale that honestly put Hollywood Studios to shame. With a stronger parade, more park-wide activities, and more impressive fireworks, this celebration lasted four years, with its final season ending last year in 2018. Its big claim to fame? This was the only place in any Disney park to date where you could see Prince Hans.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Ever-After.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Ever-After-Epcot\" class=\"wp-image-54653\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>1.) <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Out this entire list, this is the only item to be a ride. Everything else is some form of live entertainment. Because of the investment and longevity that comes with building a permanent ride as well as the trajectory of influence this particular ride set into motion, it makes the top of our countdown as #1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frozen Ever After is a boat ride taking place after the events of <em>Frozen<\/em>. It's \"winter in summer\" day, celebrating the day on the calendar that Anna saved Elsa with an act of true love. To commemorate, we're invited to take a boat tour of Arendelle. Along the way, we see plenty of familiar faces and even hear a few familiar tunes. This structure is unique from most classic Disney rides of this same style in that <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> doesn't simply retell the events from <em>Frozen<\/em>, though the nature of it is so similar that if you're not paying close attention, you might think it does that anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With stellar Audio-Animatronics figures and even a bit of thrill, <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> is one of Epcot's best attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The context surrounding the ride is particularly curious, though. It replaced <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, a longstanding ride celebrating Norwegian culture. Despite being located within the Norway pavilion and even using the same track layout as <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, <em>Frozen Ever After <\/em>doesn't even try to work in Norwegian heritage into its narrative. At first, this seemed to be a departure of form for Epcot. Now that we're a few years after its opening and we know what Disney's building next, though, the ride was actually a taste of a new era for Epcot, one less occupied with education and more focused on characters. Future attractions will bring <em>Ratatouille<\/em> to the France pavilion and <em>Mary Poppins<\/em> to the United Kingdom pavilion. Elsewhere in the park, a <em>Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em> roller coaster will open (though that, at least, has been promised to include educational value somewhere within it). Whether this new direction for Epcot is exciting or apocalyptic depends on who you ask, but the park is for certain in the middle of a transformation toward a new version of itself, and one might point the beginning of that transformation back to Frozen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen-1024x401.png\" alt=\"Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54654\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It should come as no surprise that, now being an established staple of the Disney fold, Frozen is continuing to be used, perhaps now even more than ever. Following Epcot's lead, multiple permanent attractions are currently in development for Disney theme parks around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why* it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Festival-of-Fantasy.jpg\" alt=\"Festival-of-Fantasy-Parade-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54647\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>8) <em>Festival of Fantasy Parade<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2014-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It's true that Frozen is one of many films highlighted in Magic Kingdom's daily Festival of Fantasy Parade. The production is hardly exclusive to Arendellians, also featuring practically Disney's whole library of animated classics, from <em>Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs<\/em> to <em>Brave<\/em>. But it's <em>Frozen<\/em>'s influence within the parade that places it on this list. If we're talking about impact and influence, which we are, this is a prime example of <em>Frozen<\/em> beginning to misplace fellow Disney brethren, for better or for worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Allow me to explain. When <em>Festival of Fantasy<\/em> debuted in spring 2014, it was slated to feature Princess Aurora on a garden float along with other Disney princesses. The soundtrack for that float even included \"Once Upon a Dream\" in its medley of princess songs. Then <em>Frozen<\/em> happened. People wanted to see Anna and Elsa when they came to Disney World, and would surely expect to see them in a new parade. But there wasn't enough time to include an entire <em>Frozen<\/em> float into the parade. It would have to be part of an existing unit. It would have to replace something already planned. Who got the boot? Princess Aurora. Her portion of the princess float was reconstructed to resemble Elsa's icy palace, and Anna and Elsa proudly rode upon it when the parade debuted. In an interesting twist, though, there wasn't enough time to record a new version of the parade's soundtrack before it debuted. So on opening day, the float still played \"Once Upon a Dream\" despite Aurora being completely absent. It wasn't until a few months later than the float would abridge its medley to include \"For the First Time In Forever\" and \"Let It Go.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This was the first big instance of Frozen forcing other Disney properties out of the way. As we'll see later on, it wouldn't be the last.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Royal-Sommerhus.jpg\" alt=\"Epcot-Royal-Sommerhus\" class=\"wp-image-54648\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>7) <em>Royal Sommerhus<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We've established that Disney park guests went gaga when Anna and Elsa showed up anywhere. So of course, the ultimate souvenir from a Disney trip at the peak of <em>Frozen<\/em> pandemonium was a family photo with the famous sisters. The demand, though, became overwhelming. At the time of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release, Anna and Elsa were crammed into a small room in Epcot's Norway pavilion (unknowingly a prophecy of things later to come). Lines became too long for even Disney to properly manage at this location, so the sisters were moved to Magic Kingdom's <em>Princess Fairytale Hall<\/em>, a spot that has much more capacity to hold large volumes of waiting guests and can get them through the line quicker thanks to some Disney magic behind the scenes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon the opening of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> (don't worry, we'll get to it) at Epcot in 2016, <em>Royal Sommerhus<\/em> opened along with it as the permanent meet & greet location for Anna and Elsa. While essentially the attraction exists for the sole purpose of being a photo-op with Anna and Elsa, it does slightly build upon the world of Frozen in a new way that no movie shows us. This, as it's presented to us, is a summer home that Anna and Elsa's parents would take them for family visits. While in line, we even see remnants of the sisters' childhoods. It remains the forever home that Walt Disney World guests know they can always find Arendelle royalty all day long, every day, eliminating a wild goose chase to track down a photo as is the case with some characters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Mickey-Friendship-Faire.jpeg\" alt=\"Mickeys-Royal-Friendship-Faire\" class=\"wp-image-54649\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>6) <em>Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This stage show in front of Cinderella Castle incidentally celebrates, in chronological order, the peak films of the Disney Revival: <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), and <em>Frozen<\/em> (2013). In context of our <em>Frozen <\/em>countdown, the most fascinating quality that Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire offers is the interactions of Mickey and the gang with the royalty of the Disney animated films. Unlike, say, Cinderella or Peter Pan, who Mickey has seen often and seems to know quite well, this show presents each character as the first time they've ever been part of a Disney spectacle like this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This means that we literally get to see Anna, Elsa, and Olaf introduce themselves to Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Think about the magnitude of that sentence. These are generations of Disney coming together before our eyes, tangibly greeting one another for the very first time. As a fan, this is an interesting opportunity and not one that I think many expected to be part of this show's proceedings when it opened in 2016. Also of note is that Minnie has heard of Anna and Elsa. In fact, she's a fangirl. Mickey's set up the sisters' arrival as a surprise to Minnie, and the mouse, like many in the audience, goes crazy. \"From the moment I heard your story, I admired you both so much.\" So did we.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/First-Time-In-Forever.jpg\" alt=\"First-Time-In-Forever-Frozen-Sing-Along-Celebration\" class=\"wp-image-54650\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>5) <\/strong><em><strong>For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/strong><\/em><strong><br>Disney's Hollywood Studios (2014-present)<br>Disney California Adventure (2015-2016<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This show is a carry-over from the temporary <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> (see above) that guests enjoyed so much at Disney's Hollywood Studios that Disney decided to make it permanent. That being said, it has the feel of something that didn't know it would be around for a long time. I'm not sure what guests expect upon entering For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration. Despite the words \"sing-along\" being in the title, I don't think many people expect the show to actually be as simple as watching clips from Frozen on a screen and singing along while narrators provide commentary. Yes, it has brief live appearances from Frozen characters, but this is not a full-scale musical retelling of the film as guests might expect from the precedence set by other shows throughout the park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That being said, the premise on paper sounds a lot more boring than the captivating presentation that ensues in person. The sing-along aspect is fun. The narrators are hilarious. The informal nature of the proceedings help us relax a bit; we needn't be on our best behavior as with most \"shows.\" While some may have expected or even preferred a more traditional musical or find it lazy to seemingly pop in a DVD and press play, there's still value in the uniqueness of what happens here if you're willing to let yourself get as excited about it as the narrators are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In California, this show replaced <em>MuppetVision 3D<\/em>, but didn't last long. It closed when <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em>, a much grander production, opened in 2016. The theater where the sing-along was held was a preview center for new Disney films for a few years. Today, it presents <em>Mickey's PhilharMagic<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Frozen-Holiday-Wish.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Holiday-Wish-Magic-Kingdom\" class=\"wp-image-21933\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>4) <em>A Frozen Holiday Wish<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2014-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember when I said <em>Frozen<\/em> sometimes displaced things? Yeeeaaaahhh. Buckle up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beginning in 2007, Disney adorned Cinderella Castle each Christmas season with gorgeous icicle lights. Photos don't do them justice. They're breathtaking. Every night, the lights would magically turn on for the evening with the help of Cinderella and her Fairy Godmother. This is, after all, Cinderella's home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon <em>Frozen<\/em>'s success, the writing was on the wall. This was low-hanging fruit. This was handed to Disney on a silver platter in a way that they'd be silly to neglect. Elsa had icy powers. This was the resort's iconic structure that turned to ice every Christmas season. It made sense for Elsa to now be included in the annual event. The way in which she was included, though, could have been handled a bit differently, in my opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Turns out, Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf are visiting this kingdom for the holidays. (They sure do visit neighboring kingdoms often, huh?) They remark about how beautiful the decorations are everywhere, but notice that the castle is missing decor. \"Elsa!\" Anna exclaims. \"Wouldn't it be great if you used your frozen fractiley powers to cover the castle in ice and snow?!\" Elsa replies, \"Anna, I'd love to, but I can't. This isn't our home. We're just visiting and we have to be respectful to the people who live here.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That seems like a perfect cue for the person who DOES live here, right? Instead of Cinderella appearing and giving her blessing, though, Anna literally has the guests peer pressure Elsa into making graffiti on the castle. Ok, ok, so maybe this wasn't meant to be analyzed with such scrutiny, but I can't shake that this could've gone a little different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite this nitpicking, the brief ceremony is a delight. It peppers in clever phrases from <em>Frozen<\/em>'s script throughout its dialogue and includes pleasant orchestral versions of <em>Frozen<\/em> songs and Christmas tunes alike in what is basically an eight minutes of stalled anticipation for the lights to follow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The spectacle itself is still the same as it's always been since 2007. The lights are no different, and are beautiful as ever. Simply the \"turning on\" ceremony each night is now void of Cinderella. Will Elsa be convicted of trespassing charges this year?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Live-Hyperion.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Live-Hyperion\" class=\"wp-image-54651\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>3) <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em><br>Disney California Adventure (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If <em>A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/em> at Disney's Hollywood Studios swerves expectations in an underwhelming (yet endearingly quirky) way, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> at Disney California Adventure swerves expectations in an overwhelming way. It's practically a mini Broadway musical, clocking in at 55 minutes and with the costuming and production value of anything you'd hope to find in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, in the performance I attended, most of the jokes were met with minimal laughter. It would stand to reason that as many times audiences in the room have seen <em>Frozen<\/em> over and over, hearing the same jokes simply aren't funny anymore. However, this could've just been the show I was at and not a common issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though it's nearly flawless, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> holds a sour reputation among some for replacing the phenomenal <em>Aladdin \u2014<\/em> <em>A Musical Spectacular<\/em>, which had performed in this space since 2003 and <strong>did<\/strong> vary up its script with different material and even topical jokes for Genie based on current events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tokyo-Disneyland-Frozen-Fantasy.png\" alt=\"Anna-Elsa-Frozen-Fantasy-Tokyo-Disneyland\" class=\"wp-image-54652\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>2) <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy<\/em><\/strong><br><strong>Tokyo Disneyland (2015-2018<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Imagine <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> from Disney's Hollywood Studios on steroids. Or, perhaps more realistically, with a much bigger budget. That's what <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy <\/em>was at Tokyo Disneyland. This was a seasonal Frozen festival on a grand scale that honestly put Hollywood Studios to shame. With a stronger parade, more park-wide activities, and more impressive fireworks, this celebration lasted four years, with its final season ending last year in 2018. Its big claim to fame? This was the only place in any Disney park to date where you could see Prince Hans.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Ever-After.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Ever-After-Epcot\" class=\"wp-image-54653\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>1.) <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Out this entire list, this is the only item to be a ride. Everything else is some form of live entertainment. Because of the investment and longevity that comes with building a permanent ride as well as the trajectory of influence this particular ride set into motion, it makes the top of our countdown as #1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frozen Ever After is a boat ride taking place after the events of <em>Frozen<\/em>. It's \"winter in summer\" day, celebrating the day on the calendar that Anna saved Elsa with an act of true love. To commemorate, we're invited to take a boat tour of Arendelle. Along the way, we see plenty of familiar faces and even hear a few familiar tunes. This structure is unique from most classic Disney rides of this same style in that <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> doesn't simply retell the events from <em>Frozen<\/em>, though the nature of it is so similar that if you're not paying close attention, you might think it does that anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With stellar Audio-Animatronics figures and even a bit of thrill, <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> is one of Epcot's best attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The context surrounding the ride is particularly curious, though. It replaced <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, a longstanding ride celebrating Norwegian culture. Despite being located within the Norway pavilion and even using the same track layout as <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, <em>Frozen Ever After <\/em>doesn't even try to work in Norwegian heritage into its narrative. At first, this seemed to be a departure of form for Epcot. Now that we're a few years after its opening and we know what Disney's building next, though, the ride was actually a taste of a new era for Epcot, one less occupied with education and more focused on characters. Future attractions will bring <em>Ratatouille<\/em> to the France pavilion and <em>Mary Poppins<\/em> to the United Kingdom pavilion. Elsewhere in the park, a <em>Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em> roller coaster will open (though that, at least, has been promised to include educational value somewhere within it). Whether this new direction for Epcot is exciting or apocalyptic depends on who you ask, but the park is for certain in the middle of a transformation toward a new version of itself, and one might point the beginning of that transformation back to Frozen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen-1024x401.png\" alt=\"Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54654\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It should come as no surprise that, now being an established staple of the Disney fold, Frozen is continuing to be used, perhaps now even more than ever. Following Epcot's lead, multiple permanent attractions are currently in development for Disney theme parks around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why* it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<p>The 2015 version of <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> was part of a larger \"Coolest Summer Ever\" campaign across all of Walt Disney World, kicked off by a 24-hour special event at Magic Kingdom hosted by Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Festival-of-Fantasy.jpg\" alt=\"Festival-of-Fantasy-Parade-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54647\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>8) <em>Festival of Fantasy Parade<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2014-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It's true that Frozen is one of many films highlighted in Magic Kingdom's daily Festival of Fantasy Parade. The production is hardly exclusive to Arendellians, also featuring practically Disney's whole library of animated classics, from <em>Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs<\/em> to <em>Brave<\/em>. But it's <em>Frozen<\/em>'s influence within the parade that places it on this list. If we're talking about impact and influence, which we are, this is a prime example of <em>Frozen<\/em> beginning to misplace fellow Disney brethren, for better or for worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Allow me to explain. When <em>Festival of Fantasy<\/em> debuted in spring 2014, it was slated to feature Princess Aurora on a garden float along with other Disney princesses. The soundtrack for that float even included \"Once Upon a Dream\" in its medley of princess songs. Then <em>Frozen<\/em> happened. People wanted to see Anna and Elsa when they came to Disney World, and would surely expect to see them in a new parade. But there wasn't enough time to include an entire <em>Frozen<\/em> float into the parade. It would have to be part of an existing unit. It would have to replace something already planned. Who got the boot? Princess Aurora. Her portion of the princess float was reconstructed to resemble Elsa's icy palace, and Anna and Elsa proudly rode upon it when the parade debuted. In an interesting twist, though, there wasn't enough time to record a new version of the parade's soundtrack before it debuted. So on opening day, the float still played \"Once Upon a Dream\" despite Aurora being completely absent. It wasn't until a few months later than the float would abridge its medley to include \"For the First Time In Forever\" and \"Let It Go.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This was the first big instance of Frozen forcing other Disney properties out of the way. As we'll see later on, it wouldn't be the last.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Royal-Sommerhus.jpg\" alt=\"Epcot-Royal-Sommerhus\" class=\"wp-image-54648\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>7) <em>Royal Sommerhus<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We've established that Disney park guests went gaga when Anna and Elsa showed up anywhere. So of course, the ultimate souvenir from a Disney trip at the peak of <em>Frozen<\/em> pandemonium was a family photo with the famous sisters. The demand, though, became overwhelming. At the time of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release, Anna and Elsa were crammed into a small room in Epcot's Norway pavilion (unknowingly a prophecy of things later to come). Lines became too long for even Disney to properly manage at this location, so the sisters were moved to Magic Kingdom's <em>Princess Fairytale Hall<\/em>, a spot that has much more capacity to hold large volumes of waiting guests and can get them through the line quicker thanks to some Disney magic behind the scenes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon the opening of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> (don't worry, we'll get to it) at Epcot in 2016, <em>Royal Sommerhus<\/em> opened along with it as the permanent meet & greet location for Anna and Elsa. While essentially the attraction exists for the sole purpose of being a photo-op with Anna and Elsa, it does slightly build upon the world of Frozen in a new way that no movie shows us. This, as it's presented to us, is a summer home that Anna and Elsa's parents would take them for family visits. While in line, we even see remnants of the sisters' childhoods. It remains the forever home that Walt Disney World guests know they can always find Arendelle royalty all day long, every day, eliminating a wild goose chase to track down a photo as is the case with some characters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Mickey-Friendship-Faire.jpeg\" alt=\"Mickeys-Royal-Friendship-Faire\" class=\"wp-image-54649\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>6) <em>Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This stage show in front of Cinderella Castle incidentally celebrates, in chronological order, the peak films of the Disney Revival: <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), and <em>Frozen<\/em> (2013). In context of our <em>Frozen <\/em>countdown, the most fascinating quality that Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire offers is the interactions of Mickey and the gang with the royalty of the Disney animated films. Unlike, say, Cinderella or Peter Pan, who Mickey has seen often and seems to know quite well, this show presents each character as the first time they've ever been part of a Disney spectacle like this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This means that we literally get to see Anna, Elsa, and Olaf introduce themselves to Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Think about the magnitude of that sentence. These are generations of Disney coming together before our eyes, tangibly greeting one another for the very first time. As a fan, this is an interesting opportunity and not one that I think many expected to be part of this show's proceedings when it opened in 2016. Also of note is that Minnie has heard of Anna and Elsa. In fact, she's a fangirl. Mickey's set up the sisters' arrival as a surprise to Minnie, and the mouse, like many in the audience, goes crazy. \"From the moment I heard your story, I admired you both so much.\" So did we.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/First-Time-In-Forever.jpg\" alt=\"First-Time-In-Forever-Frozen-Sing-Along-Celebration\" class=\"wp-image-54650\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>5) <\/strong><em><strong>For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/strong><\/em><strong><br>Disney's Hollywood Studios (2014-present)<br>Disney California Adventure (2015-2016<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This show is a carry-over from the temporary <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> (see above) that guests enjoyed so much at Disney's Hollywood Studios that Disney decided to make it permanent. That being said, it has the feel of something that didn't know it would be around for a long time. I'm not sure what guests expect upon entering For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration. Despite the words \"sing-along\" being in the title, I don't think many people expect the show to actually be as simple as watching clips from Frozen on a screen and singing along while narrators provide commentary. Yes, it has brief live appearances from Frozen characters, but this is not a full-scale musical retelling of the film as guests might expect from the precedence set by other shows throughout the park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That being said, the premise on paper sounds a lot more boring than the captivating presentation that ensues in person. The sing-along aspect is fun. The narrators are hilarious. The informal nature of the proceedings help us relax a bit; we needn't be on our best behavior as with most \"shows.\" While some may have expected or even preferred a more traditional musical or find it lazy to seemingly pop in a DVD and press play, there's still value in the uniqueness of what happens here if you're willing to let yourself get as excited about it as the narrators are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In California, this show replaced <em>MuppetVision 3D<\/em>, but didn't last long. It closed when <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em>, a much grander production, opened in 2016. The theater where the sing-along was held was a preview center for new Disney films for a few years. Today, it presents <em>Mickey's PhilharMagic<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Frozen-Holiday-Wish.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Holiday-Wish-Magic-Kingdom\" class=\"wp-image-21933\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>4) <em>A Frozen Holiday Wish<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2014-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember when I said <em>Frozen<\/em> sometimes displaced things? Yeeeaaaahhh. Buckle up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beginning in 2007, Disney adorned Cinderella Castle each Christmas season with gorgeous icicle lights. Photos don't do them justice. They're breathtaking. Every night, the lights would magically turn on for the evening with the help of Cinderella and her Fairy Godmother. This is, after all, Cinderella's home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon <em>Frozen<\/em>'s success, the writing was on the wall. This was low-hanging fruit. This was handed to Disney on a silver platter in a way that they'd be silly to neglect. Elsa had icy powers. This was the resort's iconic structure that turned to ice every Christmas season. It made sense for Elsa to now be included in the annual event. The way in which she was included, though, could have been handled a bit differently, in my opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Turns out, Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf are visiting this kingdom for the holidays. (They sure do visit neighboring kingdoms often, huh?) They remark about how beautiful the decorations are everywhere, but notice that the castle is missing decor. \"Elsa!\" Anna exclaims. \"Wouldn't it be great if you used your frozen fractiley powers to cover the castle in ice and snow?!\" Elsa replies, \"Anna, I'd love to, but I can't. This isn't our home. We're just visiting and we have to be respectful to the people who live here.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That seems like a perfect cue for the person who DOES live here, right? Instead of Cinderella appearing and giving her blessing, though, Anna literally has the guests peer pressure Elsa into making graffiti on the castle. Ok, ok, so maybe this wasn't meant to be analyzed with such scrutiny, but I can't shake that this could've gone a little different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite this nitpicking, the brief ceremony is a delight. It peppers in clever phrases from <em>Frozen<\/em>'s script throughout its dialogue and includes pleasant orchestral versions of <em>Frozen<\/em> songs and Christmas tunes alike in what is basically an eight minutes of stalled anticipation for the lights to follow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The spectacle itself is still the same as it's always been since 2007. The lights are no different, and are beautiful as ever. Simply the \"turning on\" ceremony each night is now void of Cinderella. Will Elsa be convicted of trespassing charges this year?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Live-Hyperion.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Live-Hyperion\" class=\"wp-image-54651\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>3) <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em><br>Disney California Adventure (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If <em>A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/em> at Disney's Hollywood Studios swerves expectations in an underwhelming (yet endearingly quirky) way, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> at Disney California Adventure swerves expectations in an overwhelming way. It's practically a mini Broadway musical, clocking in at 55 minutes and with the costuming and production value of anything you'd hope to find in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, in the performance I attended, most of the jokes were met with minimal laughter. It would stand to reason that as many times audiences in the room have seen <em>Frozen<\/em> over and over, hearing the same jokes simply aren't funny anymore. However, this could've just been the show I was at and not a common issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though it's nearly flawless, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> holds a sour reputation among some for replacing the phenomenal <em>Aladdin \u2014<\/em> <em>A Musical Spectacular<\/em>, which had performed in this space since 2003 and <strong>did<\/strong> vary up its script with different material and even topical jokes for Genie based on current events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tokyo-Disneyland-Frozen-Fantasy.png\" alt=\"Anna-Elsa-Frozen-Fantasy-Tokyo-Disneyland\" class=\"wp-image-54652\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>2) <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy<\/em><\/strong><br><strong>Tokyo Disneyland (2015-2018<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Imagine <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> from Disney's Hollywood Studios on steroids. Or, perhaps more realistically, with a much bigger budget. That's what <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy <\/em>was at Tokyo Disneyland. This was a seasonal Frozen festival on a grand scale that honestly put Hollywood Studios to shame. With a stronger parade, more park-wide activities, and more impressive fireworks, this celebration lasted four years, with its final season ending last year in 2018. Its big claim to fame? This was the only place in any Disney park to date where you could see Prince Hans.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Ever-After.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Ever-After-Epcot\" class=\"wp-image-54653\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>1.) <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Out this entire list, this is the only item to be a ride. Everything else is some form of live entertainment. Because of the investment and longevity that comes with building a permanent ride as well as the trajectory of influence this particular ride set into motion, it makes the top of our countdown as #1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frozen Ever After is a boat ride taking place after the events of <em>Frozen<\/em>. It's \"winter in summer\" day, celebrating the day on the calendar that Anna saved Elsa with an act of true love. To commemorate, we're invited to take a boat tour of Arendelle. Along the way, we see plenty of familiar faces and even hear a few familiar tunes. This structure is unique from most classic Disney rides of this same style in that <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> doesn't simply retell the events from <em>Frozen<\/em>, though the nature of it is so similar that if you're not paying close attention, you might think it does that anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With stellar Audio-Animatronics figures and even a bit of thrill, <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> is one of Epcot's best attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The context surrounding the ride is particularly curious, though. It replaced <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, a longstanding ride celebrating Norwegian culture. Despite being located within the Norway pavilion and even using the same track layout as <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, <em>Frozen Ever After <\/em>doesn't even try to work in Norwegian heritage into its narrative. At first, this seemed to be a departure of form for Epcot. Now that we're a few years after its opening and we know what Disney's building next, though, the ride was actually a taste of a new era for Epcot, one less occupied with education and more focused on characters. Future attractions will bring <em>Ratatouille<\/em> to the France pavilion and <em>Mary Poppins<\/em> to the United Kingdom pavilion. Elsewhere in the park, a <em>Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em> roller coaster will open (though that, at least, has been promised to include educational value somewhere within it). Whether this new direction for Epcot is exciting or apocalyptic depends on who you ask, but the park is for certain in the middle of a transformation toward a new version of itself, and one might point the beginning of that transformation back to Frozen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen-1024x401.png\" alt=\"Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54654\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It should come as no surprise that, now being an established staple of the Disney fold, Frozen is continuing to be used, perhaps now even more than ever. Following Epcot's lead, multiple permanent attractions are currently in development for Disney theme parks around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why* it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<p>In reflection, perhaps the most intriguing aspect of <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> was the way it set up its narrative. With any resort, there wouldn't need to be any \"story\" or \"justification\" for what was essentially a festival celebrating a movie. This being Disney, though, there actually was a set-up for all of this. In a traveling tour of various kingdoms, Anna and Elsa visit \"Hollywoodland\" for the summer to greet its citizens and enjoy the season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The 2015 version of <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> was part of a larger \"Coolest Summer Ever\" campaign across all of Walt Disney World, kicked off by a 24-hour special event at Magic Kingdom hosted by Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Festival-of-Fantasy.jpg\" alt=\"Festival-of-Fantasy-Parade-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54647\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>8) <em>Festival of Fantasy Parade<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2014-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It's true that Frozen is one of many films highlighted in Magic Kingdom's daily Festival of Fantasy Parade. The production is hardly exclusive to Arendellians, also featuring practically Disney's whole library of animated classics, from <em>Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs<\/em> to <em>Brave<\/em>. But it's <em>Frozen<\/em>'s influence within the parade that places it on this list. If we're talking about impact and influence, which we are, this is a prime example of <em>Frozen<\/em> beginning to misplace fellow Disney brethren, for better or for worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Allow me to explain. When <em>Festival of Fantasy<\/em> debuted in spring 2014, it was slated to feature Princess Aurora on a garden float along with other Disney princesses. The soundtrack for that float even included \"Once Upon a Dream\" in its medley of princess songs. Then <em>Frozen<\/em> happened. People wanted to see Anna and Elsa when they came to Disney World, and would surely expect to see them in a new parade. But there wasn't enough time to include an entire <em>Frozen<\/em> float into the parade. It would have to be part of an existing unit. It would have to replace something already planned. Who got the boot? Princess Aurora. Her portion of the princess float was reconstructed to resemble Elsa's icy palace, and Anna and Elsa proudly rode upon it when the parade debuted. In an interesting twist, though, there wasn't enough time to record a new version of the parade's soundtrack before it debuted. So on opening day, the float still played \"Once Upon a Dream\" despite Aurora being completely absent. It wasn't until a few months later than the float would abridge its medley to include \"For the First Time In Forever\" and \"Let It Go.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This was the first big instance of Frozen forcing other Disney properties out of the way. As we'll see later on, it wouldn't be the last.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Royal-Sommerhus.jpg\" alt=\"Epcot-Royal-Sommerhus\" class=\"wp-image-54648\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>7) <em>Royal Sommerhus<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We've established that Disney park guests went gaga when Anna and Elsa showed up anywhere. So of course, the ultimate souvenir from a Disney trip at the peak of <em>Frozen<\/em> pandemonium was a family photo with the famous sisters. The demand, though, became overwhelming. At the time of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release, Anna and Elsa were crammed into a small room in Epcot's Norway pavilion (unknowingly a prophecy of things later to come). Lines became too long for even Disney to properly manage at this location, so the sisters were moved to Magic Kingdom's <em>Princess Fairytale Hall<\/em>, a spot that has much more capacity to hold large volumes of waiting guests and can get them through the line quicker thanks to some Disney magic behind the scenes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon the opening of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> (don't worry, we'll get to it) at Epcot in 2016, <em>Royal Sommerhus<\/em> opened along with it as the permanent meet & greet location for Anna and Elsa. While essentially the attraction exists for the sole purpose of being a photo-op with Anna and Elsa, it does slightly build upon the world of Frozen in a new way that no movie shows us. This, as it's presented to us, is a summer home that Anna and Elsa's parents would take them for family visits. While in line, we even see remnants of the sisters' childhoods. It remains the forever home that Walt Disney World guests know they can always find Arendelle royalty all day long, every day, eliminating a wild goose chase to track down a photo as is the case with some characters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Mickey-Friendship-Faire.jpeg\" alt=\"Mickeys-Royal-Friendship-Faire\" class=\"wp-image-54649\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>6) <em>Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This stage show in front of Cinderella Castle incidentally celebrates, in chronological order, the peak films of the Disney Revival: <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), and <em>Frozen<\/em> (2013). In context of our <em>Frozen <\/em>countdown, the most fascinating quality that Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire offers is the interactions of Mickey and the gang with the royalty of the Disney animated films. Unlike, say, Cinderella or Peter Pan, who Mickey has seen often and seems to know quite well, this show presents each character as the first time they've ever been part of a Disney spectacle like this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This means that we literally get to see Anna, Elsa, and Olaf introduce themselves to Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Think about the magnitude of that sentence. These are generations of Disney coming together before our eyes, tangibly greeting one another for the very first time. As a fan, this is an interesting opportunity and not one that I think many expected to be part of this show's proceedings when it opened in 2016. Also of note is that Minnie has heard of Anna and Elsa. In fact, she's a fangirl. Mickey's set up the sisters' arrival as a surprise to Minnie, and the mouse, like many in the audience, goes crazy. \"From the moment I heard your story, I admired you both so much.\" So did we.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/First-Time-In-Forever.jpg\" alt=\"First-Time-In-Forever-Frozen-Sing-Along-Celebration\" class=\"wp-image-54650\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>5) <\/strong><em><strong>For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/strong><\/em><strong><br>Disney's Hollywood Studios (2014-present)<br>Disney California Adventure (2015-2016<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This show is a carry-over from the temporary <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> (see above) that guests enjoyed so much at Disney's Hollywood Studios that Disney decided to make it permanent. That being said, it has the feel of something that didn't know it would be around for a long time. I'm not sure what guests expect upon entering For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration. Despite the words \"sing-along\" being in the title, I don't think many people expect the show to actually be as simple as watching clips from Frozen on a screen and singing along while narrators provide commentary. Yes, it has brief live appearances from Frozen characters, but this is not a full-scale musical retelling of the film as guests might expect from the precedence set by other shows throughout the park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That being said, the premise on paper sounds a lot more boring than the captivating presentation that ensues in person. The sing-along aspect is fun. The narrators are hilarious. The informal nature of the proceedings help us relax a bit; we needn't be on our best behavior as with most \"shows.\" While some may have expected or even preferred a more traditional musical or find it lazy to seemingly pop in a DVD and press play, there's still value in the uniqueness of what happens here if you're willing to let yourself get as excited about it as the narrators are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In California, this show replaced <em>MuppetVision 3D<\/em>, but didn't last long. It closed when <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em>, a much grander production, opened in 2016. The theater where the sing-along was held was a preview center for new Disney films for a few years. Today, it presents <em>Mickey's PhilharMagic<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Frozen-Holiday-Wish.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Holiday-Wish-Magic-Kingdom\" class=\"wp-image-21933\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>4) <em>A Frozen Holiday Wish<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2014-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember when I said <em>Frozen<\/em> sometimes displaced things? Yeeeaaaahhh. Buckle up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beginning in 2007, Disney adorned Cinderella Castle each Christmas season with gorgeous icicle lights. Photos don't do them justice. They're breathtaking. Every night, the lights would magically turn on for the evening with the help of Cinderella and her Fairy Godmother. This is, after all, Cinderella's home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon <em>Frozen<\/em>'s success, the writing was on the wall. This was low-hanging fruit. This was handed to Disney on a silver platter in a way that they'd be silly to neglect. Elsa had icy powers. This was the resort's iconic structure that turned to ice every Christmas season. It made sense for Elsa to now be included in the annual event. The way in which she was included, though, could have been handled a bit differently, in my opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Turns out, Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf are visiting this kingdom for the holidays. (They sure do visit neighboring kingdoms often, huh?) They remark about how beautiful the decorations are everywhere, but notice that the castle is missing decor. \"Elsa!\" Anna exclaims. \"Wouldn't it be great if you used your frozen fractiley powers to cover the castle in ice and snow?!\" Elsa replies, \"Anna, I'd love to, but I can't. This isn't our home. We're just visiting and we have to be respectful to the people who live here.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That seems like a perfect cue for the person who DOES live here, right? Instead of Cinderella appearing and giving her blessing, though, Anna literally has the guests peer pressure Elsa into making graffiti on the castle. Ok, ok, so maybe this wasn't meant to be analyzed with such scrutiny, but I can't shake that this could've gone a little different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite this nitpicking, the brief ceremony is a delight. It peppers in clever phrases from <em>Frozen<\/em>'s script throughout its dialogue and includes pleasant orchestral versions of <em>Frozen<\/em> songs and Christmas tunes alike in what is basically an eight minutes of stalled anticipation for the lights to follow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The spectacle itself is still the same as it's always been since 2007. The lights are no different, and are beautiful as ever. Simply the \"turning on\" ceremony each night is now void of Cinderella. Will Elsa be convicted of trespassing charges this year?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Live-Hyperion.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Live-Hyperion\" class=\"wp-image-54651\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>3) <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em><br>Disney California Adventure (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If <em>A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/em> at Disney's Hollywood Studios swerves expectations in an underwhelming (yet endearingly quirky) way, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> at Disney California Adventure swerves expectations in an overwhelming way. It's practically a mini Broadway musical, clocking in at 55 minutes and with the costuming and production value of anything you'd hope to find in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, in the performance I attended, most of the jokes were met with minimal laughter. It would stand to reason that as many times audiences in the room have seen <em>Frozen<\/em> over and over, hearing the same jokes simply aren't funny anymore. However, this could've just been the show I was at and not a common issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though it's nearly flawless, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> holds a sour reputation among some for replacing the phenomenal <em>Aladdin \u2014<\/em> <em>A Musical Spectacular<\/em>, which had performed in this space since 2003 and <strong>did<\/strong> vary up its script with different material and even topical jokes for Genie based on current events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tokyo-Disneyland-Frozen-Fantasy.png\" alt=\"Anna-Elsa-Frozen-Fantasy-Tokyo-Disneyland\" class=\"wp-image-54652\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>2) <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy<\/em><\/strong><br><strong>Tokyo Disneyland (2015-2018<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Imagine <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> from Disney's Hollywood Studios on steroids. Or, perhaps more realistically, with a much bigger budget. That's what <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy <\/em>was at Tokyo Disneyland. This was a seasonal Frozen festival on a grand scale that honestly put Hollywood Studios to shame. With a stronger parade, more park-wide activities, and more impressive fireworks, this celebration lasted four years, with its final season ending last year in 2018. Its big claim to fame? This was the only place in any Disney park to date where you could see Prince Hans.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Ever-After.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Ever-After-Epcot\" class=\"wp-image-54653\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>1.) <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Out this entire list, this is the only item to be a ride. Everything else is some form of live entertainment. Because of the investment and longevity that comes with building a permanent ride as well as the trajectory of influence this particular ride set into motion, it makes the top of our countdown as #1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frozen Ever After is a boat ride taking place after the events of <em>Frozen<\/em>. It's \"winter in summer\" day, celebrating the day on the calendar that Anna saved Elsa with an act of true love. To commemorate, we're invited to take a boat tour of Arendelle. Along the way, we see plenty of familiar faces and even hear a few familiar tunes. This structure is unique from most classic Disney rides of this same style in that <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> doesn't simply retell the events from <em>Frozen<\/em>, though the nature of it is so similar that if you're not paying close attention, you might think it does that anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With stellar Audio-Animatronics figures and even a bit of thrill, <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> is one of Epcot's best attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The context surrounding the ride is particularly curious, though. It replaced <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, a longstanding ride celebrating Norwegian culture. Despite being located within the Norway pavilion and even using the same track layout as <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, <em>Frozen Ever After <\/em>doesn't even try to work in Norwegian heritage into its narrative. At first, this seemed to be a departure of form for Epcot. Now that we're a few years after its opening and we know what Disney's building next, though, the ride was actually a taste of a new era for Epcot, one less occupied with education and more focused on characters. Future attractions will bring <em>Ratatouille<\/em> to the France pavilion and <em>Mary Poppins<\/em> to the United Kingdom pavilion. Elsewhere in the park, a <em>Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em> roller coaster will open (though that, at least, has been promised to include educational value somewhere within it). Whether this new direction for Epcot is exciting or apocalyptic depends on who you ask, but the park is for certain in the middle of a transformation toward a new version of itself, and one might point the beginning of that transformation back to Frozen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen-1024x401.png\" alt=\"Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54654\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It should come as no surprise that, now being an established staple of the Disney fold, Frozen is continuing to be used, perhaps now even more than ever. Following Epcot's lead, multiple permanent attractions are currently in development for Disney theme parks around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why* it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<p>For two summers, Disney's Hollywood Studios became a celebration of all things <em>Frozen<\/em>. This included a processional through the park, a small show in which Olaf basked in his summertime glory, fireworks set to music from the film, and a sing-along stage show that would inadvertently become a permanent offering for the park (more on that later). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In reflection, perhaps the most intriguing aspect of <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> was the way it set up its narrative. With any resort, there wouldn't need to be any \"story\" or \"justification\" for what was essentially a festival celebrating a movie. This being Disney, though, there actually was a set-up for all of this. In a traveling tour of various kingdoms, Anna and Elsa visit \"Hollywoodland\" for the summer to greet its citizens and enjoy the season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The 2015 version of <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> was part of a larger \"Coolest Summer Ever\" campaign across all of Walt Disney World, kicked off by a 24-hour special event at Magic Kingdom hosted by Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Festival-of-Fantasy.jpg\" alt=\"Festival-of-Fantasy-Parade-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54647\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>8) <em>Festival of Fantasy Parade<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2014-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It's true that Frozen is one of many films highlighted in Magic Kingdom's daily Festival of Fantasy Parade. The production is hardly exclusive to Arendellians, also featuring practically Disney's whole library of animated classics, from <em>Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs<\/em> to <em>Brave<\/em>. But it's <em>Frozen<\/em>'s influence within the parade that places it on this list. If we're talking about impact and influence, which we are, this is a prime example of <em>Frozen<\/em> beginning to misplace fellow Disney brethren, for better or for worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Allow me to explain. When <em>Festival of Fantasy<\/em> debuted in spring 2014, it was slated to feature Princess Aurora on a garden float along with other Disney princesses. The soundtrack for that float even included \"Once Upon a Dream\" in its medley of princess songs. Then <em>Frozen<\/em> happened. People wanted to see Anna and Elsa when they came to Disney World, and would surely expect to see them in a new parade. But there wasn't enough time to include an entire <em>Frozen<\/em> float into the parade. It would have to be part of an existing unit. It would have to replace something already planned. Who got the boot? Princess Aurora. Her portion of the princess float was reconstructed to resemble Elsa's icy palace, and Anna and Elsa proudly rode upon it when the parade debuted. In an interesting twist, though, there wasn't enough time to record a new version of the parade's soundtrack before it debuted. So on opening day, the float still played \"Once Upon a Dream\" despite Aurora being completely absent. It wasn't until a few months later than the float would abridge its medley to include \"For the First Time In Forever\" and \"Let It Go.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This was the first big instance of Frozen forcing other Disney properties out of the way. As we'll see later on, it wouldn't be the last.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Royal-Sommerhus.jpg\" alt=\"Epcot-Royal-Sommerhus\" class=\"wp-image-54648\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>7) <em>Royal Sommerhus<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We've established that Disney park guests went gaga when Anna and Elsa showed up anywhere. So of course, the ultimate souvenir from a Disney trip at the peak of <em>Frozen<\/em> pandemonium was a family photo with the famous sisters. The demand, though, became overwhelming. At the time of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release, Anna and Elsa were crammed into a small room in Epcot's Norway pavilion (unknowingly a prophecy of things later to come). Lines became too long for even Disney to properly manage at this location, so the sisters were moved to Magic Kingdom's <em>Princess Fairytale Hall<\/em>, a spot that has much more capacity to hold large volumes of waiting guests and can get them through the line quicker thanks to some Disney magic behind the scenes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon the opening of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> (don't worry, we'll get to it) at Epcot in 2016, <em>Royal Sommerhus<\/em> opened along with it as the permanent meet & greet location for Anna and Elsa. While essentially the attraction exists for the sole purpose of being a photo-op with Anna and Elsa, it does slightly build upon the world of Frozen in a new way that no movie shows us. This, as it's presented to us, is a summer home that Anna and Elsa's parents would take them for family visits. While in line, we even see remnants of the sisters' childhoods. It remains the forever home that Walt Disney World guests know they can always find Arendelle royalty all day long, every day, eliminating a wild goose chase to track down a photo as is the case with some characters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Mickey-Friendship-Faire.jpeg\" alt=\"Mickeys-Royal-Friendship-Faire\" class=\"wp-image-54649\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>6) <em>Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This stage show in front of Cinderella Castle incidentally celebrates, in chronological order, the peak films of the Disney Revival: <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), and <em>Frozen<\/em> (2013). In context of our <em>Frozen <\/em>countdown, the most fascinating quality that Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire offers is the interactions of Mickey and the gang with the royalty of the Disney animated films. Unlike, say, Cinderella or Peter Pan, who Mickey has seen often and seems to know quite well, this show presents each character as the first time they've ever been part of a Disney spectacle like this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This means that we literally get to see Anna, Elsa, and Olaf introduce themselves to Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Think about the magnitude of that sentence. These are generations of Disney coming together before our eyes, tangibly greeting one another for the very first time. As a fan, this is an interesting opportunity and not one that I think many expected to be part of this show's proceedings when it opened in 2016. Also of note is that Minnie has heard of Anna and Elsa. In fact, she's a fangirl. Mickey's set up the sisters' arrival as a surprise to Minnie, and the mouse, like many in the audience, goes crazy. \"From the moment I heard your story, I admired you both so much.\" So did we.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/First-Time-In-Forever.jpg\" alt=\"First-Time-In-Forever-Frozen-Sing-Along-Celebration\" class=\"wp-image-54650\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>5) <\/strong><em><strong>For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/strong><\/em><strong><br>Disney's Hollywood Studios (2014-present)<br>Disney California Adventure (2015-2016<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This show is a carry-over from the temporary <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> (see above) that guests enjoyed so much at Disney's Hollywood Studios that Disney decided to make it permanent. That being said, it has the feel of something that didn't know it would be around for a long time. I'm not sure what guests expect upon entering For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration. Despite the words \"sing-along\" being in the title, I don't think many people expect the show to actually be as simple as watching clips from Frozen on a screen and singing along while narrators provide commentary. Yes, it has brief live appearances from Frozen characters, but this is not a full-scale musical retelling of the film as guests might expect from the precedence set by other shows throughout the park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That being said, the premise on paper sounds a lot more boring than the captivating presentation that ensues in person. The sing-along aspect is fun. The narrators are hilarious. The informal nature of the proceedings help us relax a bit; we needn't be on our best behavior as with most \"shows.\" While some may have expected or even preferred a more traditional musical or find it lazy to seemingly pop in a DVD and press play, there's still value in the uniqueness of what happens here if you're willing to let yourself get as excited about it as the narrators are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In California, this show replaced <em>MuppetVision 3D<\/em>, but didn't last long. It closed when <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em>, a much grander production, opened in 2016. The theater where the sing-along was held was a preview center for new Disney films for a few years. Today, it presents <em>Mickey's PhilharMagic<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Frozen-Holiday-Wish.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Holiday-Wish-Magic-Kingdom\" class=\"wp-image-21933\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>4) <em>A Frozen Holiday Wish<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2014-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember when I said <em>Frozen<\/em> sometimes displaced things? Yeeeaaaahhh. Buckle up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beginning in 2007, Disney adorned Cinderella Castle each Christmas season with gorgeous icicle lights. Photos don't do them justice. They're breathtaking. Every night, the lights would magically turn on for the evening with the help of Cinderella and her Fairy Godmother. This is, after all, Cinderella's home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon <em>Frozen<\/em>'s success, the writing was on the wall. This was low-hanging fruit. This was handed to Disney on a silver platter in a way that they'd be silly to neglect. Elsa had icy powers. This was the resort's iconic structure that turned to ice every Christmas season. It made sense for Elsa to now be included in the annual event. The way in which she was included, though, could have been handled a bit differently, in my opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Turns out, Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf are visiting this kingdom for the holidays. (They sure do visit neighboring kingdoms often, huh?) They remark about how beautiful the decorations are everywhere, but notice that the castle is missing decor. \"Elsa!\" Anna exclaims. \"Wouldn't it be great if you used your frozen fractiley powers to cover the castle in ice and snow?!\" Elsa replies, \"Anna, I'd love to, but I can't. This isn't our home. We're just visiting and we have to be respectful to the people who live here.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That seems like a perfect cue for the person who DOES live here, right? Instead of Cinderella appearing and giving her blessing, though, Anna literally has the guests peer pressure Elsa into making graffiti on the castle. Ok, ok, so maybe this wasn't meant to be analyzed with such scrutiny, but I can't shake that this could've gone a little different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite this nitpicking, the brief ceremony is a delight. It peppers in clever phrases from <em>Frozen<\/em>'s script throughout its dialogue and includes pleasant orchestral versions of <em>Frozen<\/em> songs and Christmas tunes alike in what is basically an eight minutes of stalled anticipation for the lights to follow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The spectacle itself is still the same as it's always been since 2007. The lights are no different, and are beautiful as ever. Simply the \"turning on\" ceremony each night is now void of Cinderella. Will Elsa be convicted of trespassing charges this year?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Live-Hyperion.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Live-Hyperion\" class=\"wp-image-54651\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>3) <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em><br>Disney California Adventure (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If <em>A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/em> at Disney's Hollywood Studios swerves expectations in an underwhelming (yet endearingly quirky) way, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> at Disney California Adventure swerves expectations in an overwhelming way. It's practically a mini Broadway musical, clocking in at 55 minutes and with the costuming and production value of anything you'd hope to find in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, in the performance I attended, most of the jokes were met with minimal laughter. It would stand to reason that as many times audiences in the room have seen <em>Frozen<\/em> over and over, hearing the same jokes simply aren't funny anymore. However, this could've just been the show I was at and not a common issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though it's nearly flawless, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> holds a sour reputation among some for replacing the phenomenal <em>Aladdin \u2014<\/em> <em>A Musical Spectacular<\/em>, which had performed in this space since 2003 and <strong>did<\/strong> vary up its script with different material and even topical jokes for Genie based on current events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tokyo-Disneyland-Frozen-Fantasy.png\" alt=\"Anna-Elsa-Frozen-Fantasy-Tokyo-Disneyland\" class=\"wp-image-54652\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>2) <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy<\/em><\/strong><br><strong>Tokyo Disneyland (2015-2018<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Imagine <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> from Disney's Hollywood Studios on steroids. Or, perhaps more realistically, with a much bigger budget. That's what <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy <\/em>was at Tokyo Disneyland. This was a seasonal Frozen festival on a grand scale that honestly put Hollywood Studios to shame. With a stronger parade, more park-wide activities, and more impressive fireworks, this celebration lasted four years, with its final season ending last year in 2018. Its big claim to fame? This was the only place in any Disney park to date where you could see Prince Hans.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Ever-After.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Ever-After-Epcot\" class=\"wp-image-54653\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>1.) <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Out this entire list, this is the only item to be a ride. Everything else is some form of live entertainment. Because of the investment and longevity that comes with building a permanent ride as well as the trajectory of influence this particular ride set into motion, it makes the top of our countdown as #1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frozen Ever After is a boat ride taking place after the events of <em>Frozen<\/em>. It's \"winter in summer\" day, celebrating the day on the calendar that Anna saved Elsa with an act of true love. To commemorate, we're invited to take a boat tour of Arendelle. Along the way, we see plenty of familiar faces and even hear a few familiar tunes. This structure is unique from most classic Disney rides of this same style in that <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> doesn't simply retell the events from <em>Frozen<\/em>, though the nature of it is so similar that if you're not paying close attention, you might think it does that anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With stellar Audio-Animatronics figures and even a bit of thrill, <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> is one of Epcot's best attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The context surrounding the ride is particularly curious, though. It replaced <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, a longstanding ride celebrating Norwegian culture. Despite being located within the Norway pavilion and even using the same track layout as <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, <em>Frozen Ever After <\/em>doesn't even try to work in Norwegian heritage into its narrative. At first, this seemed to be a departure of form for Epcot. Now that we're a few years after its opening and we know what Disney's building next, though, the ride was actually a taste of a new era for Epcot, one less occupied with education and more focused on characters. Future attractions will bring <em>Ratatouille<\/em> to the France pavilion and <em>Mary Poppins<\/em> to the United Kingdom pavilion. Elsewhere in the park, a <em>Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em> roller coaster will open (though that, at least, has been promised to include educational value somewhere within it). Whether this new direction for Epcot is exciting or apocalyptic depends on who you ask, but the park is for certain in the middle of a transformation toward a new version of itself, and one might point the beginning of that transformation back to Frozen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen-1024x401.png\" alt=\"Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54654\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It should come as no surprise that, now being an established staple of the Disney fold, Frozen is continuing to be used, perhaps now even more than ever. Following Epcot's lead, multiple permanent attractions are currently in development for Disney theme parks around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why* it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<p>People were Frozen crazy in the year following the film's initial release. Any appearance of Anna and Elsa within the theme parks was the equivalent of a celebrity sighting, and families went nuts. While plans were put into development for a permanent <em>Frozen<\/em> ride, to satisfy demand in the meantime Disney instated <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For two summers, Disney's Hollywood Studios became a celebration of all things <em>Frozen<\/em>. This included a processional through the park, a small show in which Olaf basked in his summertime glory, fireworks set to music from the film, and a sing-along stage show that would inadvertently become a permanent offering for the park (more on that later). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In reflection, perhaps the most intriguing aspect of <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> was the way it set up its narrative. With any resort, there wouldn't need to be any \"story\" or \"justification\" for what was essentially a festival celebrating a movie. This being Disney, though, there actually was a set-up for all of this. In a traveling tour of various kingdoms, Anna and Elsa visit \"Hollywoodland\" for the summer to greet its citizens and enjoy the season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The 2015 version of <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> was part of a larger \"Coolest Summer Ever\" campaign across all of Walt Disney World, kicked off by a 24-hour special event at Magic Kingdom hosted by Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Festival-of-Fantasy.jpg\" alt=\"Festival-of-Fantasy-Parade-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54647\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>8) <em>Festival of Fantasy Parade<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2014-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It's true that Frozen is one of many films highlighted in Magic Kingdom's daily Festival of Fantasy Parade. The production is hardly exclusive to Arendellians, also featuring practically Disney's whole library of animated classics, from <em>Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs<\/em> to <em>Brave<\/em>. But it's <em>Frozen<\/em>'s influence within the parade that places it on this list. If we're talking about impact and influence, which we are, this is a prime example of <em>Frozen<\/em> beginning to misplace fellow Disney brethren, for better or for worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Allow me to explain. When <em>Festival of Fantasy<\/em> debuted in spring 2014, it was slated to feature Princess Aurora on a garden float along with other Disney princesses. The soundtrack for that float even included \"Once Upon a Dream\" in its medley of princess songs. Then <em>Frozen<\/em> happened. People wanted to see Anna and Elsa when they came to Disney World, and would surely expect to see them in a new parade. But there wasn't enough time to include an entire <em>Frozen<\/em> float into the parade. It would have to be part of an existing unit. It would have to replace something already planned. Who got the boot? Princess Aurora. Her portion of the princess float was reconstructed to resemble Elsa's icy palace, and Anna and Elsa proudly rode upon it when the parade debuted. In an interesting twist, though, there wasn't enough time to record a new version of the parade's soundtrack before it debuted. So on opening day, the float still played \"Once Upon a Dream\" despite Aurora being completely absent. It wasn't until a few months later than the float would abridge its medley to include \"For the First Time In Forever\" and \"Let It Go.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This was the first big instance of Frozen forcing other Disney properties out of the way. As we'll see later on, it wouldn't be the last.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Royal-Sommerhus.jpg\" alt=\"Epcot-Royal-Sommerhus\" class=\"wp-image-54648\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>7) <em>Royal Sommerhus<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We've established that Disney park guests went gaga when Anna and Elsa showed up anywhere. So of course, the ultimate souvenir from a Disney trip at the peak of <em>Frozen<\/em> pandemonium was a family photo with the famous sisters. The demand, though, became overwhelming. At the time of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release, Anna and Elsa were crammed into a small room in Epcot's Norway pavilion (unknowingly a prophecy of things later to come). Lines became too long for even Disney to properly manage at this location, so the sisters were moved to Magic Kingdom's <em>Princess Fairytale Hall<\/em>, a spot that has much more capacity to hold large volumes of waiting guests and can get them through the line quicker thanks to some Disney magic behind the scenes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon the opening of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> (don't worry, we'll get to it) at Epcot in 2016, <em>Royal Sommerhus<\/em> opened along with it as the permanent meet & greet location for Anna and Elsa. While essentially the attraction exists for the sole purpose of being a photo-op with Anna and Elsa, it does slightly build upon the world of Frozen in a new way that no movie shows us. This, as it's presented to us, is a summer home that Anna and Elsa's parents would take them for family visits. While in line, we even see remnants of the sisters' childhoods. It remains the forever home that Walt Disney World guests know they can always find Arendelle royalty all day long, every day, eliminating a wild goose chase to track down a photo as is the case with some characters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Mickey-Friendship-Faire.jpeg\" alt=\"Mickeys-Royal-Friendship-Faire\" class=\"wp-image-54649\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>6) <em>Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This stage show in front of Cinderella Castle incidentally celebrates, in chronological order, the peak films of the Disney Revival: <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), and <em>Frozen<\/em> (2013). In context of our <em>Frozen <\/em>countdown, the most fascinating quality that Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire offers is the interactions of Mickey and the gang with the royalty of the Disney animated films. Unlike, say, Cinderella or Peter Pan, who Mickey has seen often and seems to know quite well, this show presents each character as the first time they've ever been part of a Disney spectacle like this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This means that we literally get to see Anna, Elsa, and Olaf introduce themselves to Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Think about the magnitude of that sentence. These are generations of Disney coming together before our eyes, tangibly greeting one another for the very first time. As a fan, this is an interesting opportunity and not one that I think many expected to be part of this show's proceedings when it opened in 2016. Also of note is that Minnie has heard of Anna and Elsa. In fact, she's a fangirl. Mickey's set up the sisters' arrival as a surprise to Minnie, and the mouse, like many in the audience, goes crazy. \"From the moment I heard your story, I admired you both so much.\" So did we.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/First-Time-In-Forever.jpg\" alt=\"First-Time-In-Forever-Frozen-Sing-Along-Celebration\" class=\"wp-image-54650\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>5) <\/strong><em><strong>For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/strong><\/em><strong><br>Disney's Hollywood Studios (2014-present)<br>Disney California Adventure (2015-2016<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This show is a carry-over from the temporary <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> (see above) that guests enjoyed so much at Disney's Hollywood Studios that Disney decided to make it permanent. That being said, it has the feel of something that didn't know it would be around for a long time. I'm not sure what guests expect upon entering For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration. Despite the words \"sing-along\" being in the title, I don't think many people expect the show to actually be as simple as watching clips from Frozen on a screen and singing along while narrators provide commentary. Yes, it has brief live appearances from Frozen characters, but this is not a full-scale musical retelling of the film as guests might expect from the precedence set by other shows throughout the park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That being said, the premise on paper sounds a lot more boring than the captivating presentation that ensues in person. The sing-along aspect is fun. The narrators are hilarious. The informal nature of the proceedings help us relax a bit; we needn't be on our best behavior as with most \"shows.\" While some may have expected or even preferred a more traditional musical or find it lazy to seemingly pop in a DVD and press play, there's still value in the uniqueness of what happens here if you're willing to let yourself get as excited about it as the narrators are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In California, this show replaced <em>MuppetVision 3D<\/em>, but didn't last long. It closed when <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em>, a much grander production, opened in 2016. The theater where the sing-along was held was a preview center for new Disney films for a few years. Today, it presents <em>Mickey's PhilharMagic<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Frozen-Holiday-Wish.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Holiday-Wish-Magic-Kingdom\" class=\"wp-image-21933\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>4) <em>A Frozen Holiday Wish<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2014-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember when I said <em>Frozen<\/em> sometimes displaced things? Yeeeaaaahhh. Buckle up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beginning in 2007, Disney adorned Cinderella Castle each Christmas season with gorgeous icicle lights. Photos don't do them justice. They're breathtaking. Every night, the lights would magically turn on for the evening with the help of Cinderella and her Fairy Godmother. This is, after all, Cinderella's home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon <em>Frozen<\/em>'s success, the writing was on the wall. This was low-hanging fruit. This was handed to Disney on a silver platter in a way that they'd be silly to neglect. Elsa had icy powers. This was the resort's iconic structure that turned to ice every Christmas season. It made sense for Elsa to now be included in the annual event. The way in which she was included, though, could have been handled a bit differently, in my opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Turns out, Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf are visiting this kingdom for the holidays. (They sure do visit neighboring kingdoms often, huh?) They remark about how beautiful the decorations are everywhere, but notice that the castle is missing decor. \"Elsa!\" Anna exclaims. \"Wouldn't it be great if you used your frozen fractiley powers to cover the castle in ice and snow?!\" Elsa replies, \"Anna, I'd love to, but I can't. This isn't our home. We're just visiting and we have to be respectful to the people who live here.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That seems like a perfect cue for the person who DOES live here, right? Instead of Cinderella appearing and giving her blessing, though, Anna literally has the guests peer pressure Elsa into making graffiti on the castle. Ok, ok, so maybe this wasn't meant to be analyzed with such scrutiny, but I can't shake that this could've gone a little different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite this nitpicking, the brief ceremony is a delight. It peppers in clever phrases from <em>Frozen<\/em>'s script throughout its dialogue and includes pleasant orchestral versions of <em>Frozen<\/em> songs and Christmas tunes alike in what is basically an eight minutes of stalled anticipation for the lights to follow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The spectacle itself is still the same as it's always been since 2007. The lights are no different, and are beautiful as ever. Simply the \"turning on\" ceremony each night is now void of Cinderella. Will Elsa be convicted of trespassing charges this year?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Live-Hyperion.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Live-Hyperion\" class=\"wp-image-54651\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>3) <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em><br>Disney California Adventure (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If <em>A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/em> at Disney's Hollywood Studios swerves expectations in an underwhelming (yet endearingly quirky) way, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> at Disney California Adventure swerves expectations in an overwhelming way. It's practically a mini Broadway musical, clocking in at 55 minutes and with the costuming and production value of anything you'd hope to find in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, in the performance I attended, most of the jokes were met with minimal laughter. It would stand to reason that as many times audiences in the room have seen <em>Frozen<\/em> over and over, hearing the same jokes simply aren't funny anymore. However, this could've just been the show I was at and not a common issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though it's nearly flawless, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> holds a sour reputation among some for replacing the phenomenal <em>Aladdin \u2014<\/em> <em>A Musical Spectacular<\/em>, which had performed in this space since 2003 and <strong>did<\/strong> vary up its script with different material and even topical jokes for Genie based on current events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tokyo-Disneyland-Frozen-Fantasy.png\" alt=\"Anna-Elsa-Frozen-Fantasy-Tokyo-Disneyland\" class=\"wp-image-54652\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>2) <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy<\/em><\/strong><br><strong>Tokyo Disneyland (2015-2018<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Imagine <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> from Disney's Hollywood Studios on steroids. Or, perhaps more realistically, with a much bigger budget. That's what <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy <\/em>was at Tokyo Disneyland. This was a seasonal Frozen festival on a grand scale that honestly put Hollywood Studios to shame. With a stronger parade, more park-wide activities, and more impressive fireworks, this celebration lasted four years, with its final season ending last year in 2018. Its big claim to fame? This was the only place in any Disney park to date where you could see Prince Hans.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Ever-After.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Ever-After-Epcot\" class=\"wp-image-54653\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>1.) <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Out this entire list, this is the only item to be a ride. Everything else is some form of live entertainment. Because of the investment and longevity that comes with building a permanent ride as well as the trajectory of influence this particular ride set into motion, it makes the top of our countdown as #1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frozen Ever After is a boat ride taking place after the events of <em>Frozen<\/em>. It's \"winter in summer\" day, celebrating the day on the calendar that Anna saved Elsa with an act of true love. To commemorate, we're invited to take a boat tour of Arendelle. Along the way, we see plenty of familiar faces and even hear a few familiar tunes. This structure is unique from most classic Disney rides of this same style in that <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> doesn't simply retell the events from <em>Frozen<\/em>, though the nature of it is so similar that if you're not paying close attention, you might think it does that anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With stellar Audio-Animatronics figures and even a bit of thrill, <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> is one of Epcot's best attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The context surrounding the ride is particularly curious, though. It replaced <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, a longstanding ride celebrating Norwegian culture. Despite being located within the Norway pavilion and even using the same track layout as <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, <em>Frozen Ever After <\/em>doesn't even try to work in Norwegian heritage into its narrative. At first, this seemed to be a departure of form for Epcot. Now that we're a few years after its opening and we know what Disney's building next, though, the ride was actually a taste of a new era for Epcot, one less occupied with education and more focused on characters. Future attractions will bring <em>Ratatouille<\/em> to the France pavilion and <em>Mary Poppins<\/em> to the United Kingdom pavilion. Elsewhere in the park, a <em>Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em> roller coaster will open (though that, at least, has been promised to include educational value somewhere within it). Whether this new direction for Epcot is exciting or apocalyptic depends on who you ask, but the park is for certain in the middle of a transformation toward a new version of itself, and one might point the beginning of that transformation back to Frozen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen-1024x401.png\" alt=\"Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54654\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It should come as no surprise that, now being an established staple of the Disney fold, Frozen is continuing to be used, perhaps now even more than ever. Following Epcot's lead, multiple permanent attractions are currently in development for Disney theme parks around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why* it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<h2><strong>9) <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em><br>Disney's Hollywood Studios (2014-2015<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>People were Frozen crazy in the year following the film's initial release. Any appearance of Anna and Elsa within the theme parks was the equivalent of a celebrity sighting, and families went nuts. While plans were put into development for a permanent <em>Frozen<\/em> ride, to satisfy demand in the meantime Disney instated <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For two summers, Disney's Hollywood Studios became a celebration of all things <em>Frozen<\/em>. This included a processional through the park, a small show in which Olaf basked in his summertime glory, fireworks set to music from the film, and a sing-along stage show that would inadvertently become a permanent offering for the park (more on that later). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In reflection, perhaps the most intriguing aspect of <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> was the way it set up its narrative. With any resort, there wouldn't need to be any \"story\" or \"justification\" for what was essentially a festival celebrating a movie. This being Disney, though, there actually was a set-up for all of this. In a traveling tour of various kingdoms, Anna and Elsa visit \"Hollywoodland\" for the summer to greet its citizens and enjoy the season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The 2015 version of <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> was part of a larger \"Coolest Summer Ever\" campaign across all of Walt Disney World, kicked off by a 24-hour special event at Magic Kingdom hosted by Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Festival-of-Fantasy.jpg\" alt=\"Festival-of-Fantasy-Parade-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54647\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>8) <em>Festival of Fantasy Parade<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2014-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It's true that Frozen is one of many films highlighted in Magic Kingdom's daily Festival of Fantasy Parade. The production is hardly exclusive to Arendellians, also featuring practically Disney's whole library of animated classics, from <em>Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs<\/em> to <em>Brave<\/em>. But it's <em>Frozen<\/em>'s influence within the parade that places it on this list. If we're talking about impact and influence, which we are, this is a prime example of <em>Frozen<\/em> beginning to misplace fellow Disney brethren, for better or for worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Allow me to explain. When <em>Festival of Fantasy<\/em> debuted in spring 2014, it was slated to feature Princess Aurora on a garden float along with other Disney princesses. The soundtrack for that float even included \"Once Upon a Dream\" in its medley of princess songs. Then <em>Frozen<\/em> happened. People wanted to see Anna and Elsa when they came to Disney World, and would surely expect to see them in a new parade. But there wasn't enough time to include an entire <em>Frozen<\/em> float into the parade. It would have to be part of an existing unit. It would have to replace something already planned. Who got the boot? Princess Aurora. Her portion of the princess float was reconstructed to resemble Elsa's icy palace, and Anna and Elsa proudly rode upon it when the parade debuted. In an interesting twist, though, there wasn't enough time to record a new version of the parade's soundtrack before it debuted. So on opening day, the float still played \"Once Upon a Dream\" despite Aurora being completely absent. It wasn't until a few months later than the float would abridge its medley to include \"For the First Time In Forever\" and \"Let It Go.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This was the first big instance of Frozen forcing other Disney properties out of the way. As we'll see later on, it wouldn't be the last.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Royal-Sommerhus.jpg\" alt=\"Epcot-Royal-Sommerhus\" class=\"wp-image-54648\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>7) <em>Royal Sommerhus<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We've established that Disney park guests went gaga when Anna and Elsa showed up anywhere. So of course, the ultimate souvenir from a Disney trip at the peak of <em>Frozen<\/em> pandemonium was a family photo with the famous sisters. The demand, though, became overwhelming. At the time of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release, Anna and Elsa were crammed into a small room in Epcot's Norway pavilion (unknowingly a prophecy of things later to come). Lines became too long for even Disney to properly manage at this location, so the sisters were moved to Magic Kingdom's <em>Princess Fairytale Hall<\/em>, a spot that has much more capacity to hold large volumes of waiting guests and can get them through the line quicker thanks to some Disney magic behind the scenes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon the opening of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> (don't worry, we'll get to it) at Epcot in 2016, <em>Royal Sommerhus<\/em> opened along with it as the permanent meet & greet location for Anna and Elsa. While essentially the attraction exists for the sole purpose of being a photo-op with Anna and Elsa, it does slightly build upon the world of Frozen in a new way that no movie shows us. This, as it's presented to us, is a summer home that Anna and Elsa's parents would take them for family visits. While in line, we even see remnants of the sisters' childhoods. It remains the forever home that Walt Disney World guests know they can always find Arendelle royalty all day long, every day, eliminating a wild goose chase to track down a photo as is the case with some characters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Mickey-Friendship-Faire.jpeg\" alt=\"Mickeys-Royal-Friendship-Faire\" class=\"wp-image-54649\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>6) <em>Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This stage show in front of Cinderella Castle incidentally celebrates, in chronological order, the peak films of the Disney Revival: <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), and <em>Frozen<\/em> (2013). In context of our <em>Frozen <\/em>countdown, the most fascinating quality that Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire offers is the interactions of Mickey and the gang with the royalty of the Disney animated films. Unlike, say, Cinderella or Peter Pan, who Mickey has seen often and seems to know quite well, this show presents each character as the first time they've ever been part of a Disney spectacle like this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This means that we literally get to see Anna, Elsa, and Olaf introduce themselves to Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Think about the magnitude of that sentence. These are generations of Disney coming together before our eyes, tangibly greeting one another for the very first time. As a fan, this is an interesting opportunity and not one that I think many expected to be part of this show's proceedings when it opened in 2016. Also of note is that Minnie has heard of Anna and Elsa. In fact, she's a fangirl. Mickey's set up the sisters' arrival as a surprise to Minnie, and the mouse, like many in the audience, goes crazy. \"From the moment I heard your story, I admired you both so much.\" So did we.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/First-Time-In-Forever.jpg\" alt=\"First-Time-In-Forever-Frozen-Sing-Along-Celebration\" class=\"wp-image-54650\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>5) <\/strong><em><strong>For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/strong><\/em><strong><br>Disney's Hollywood Studios (2014-present)<br>Disney California Adventure (2015-2016<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This show is a carry-over from the temporary <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> (see above) that guests enjoyed so much at Disney's Hollywood Studios that Disney decided to make it permanent. That being said, it has the feel of something that didn't know it would be around for a long time. I'm not sure what guests expect upon entering For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration. Despite the words \"sing-along\" being in the title, I don't think many people expect the show to actually be as simple as watching clips from Frozen on a screen and singing along while narrators provide commentary. Yes, it has brief live appearances from Frozen characters, but this is not a full-scale musical retelling of the film as guests might expect from the precedence set by other shows throughout the park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That being said, the premise on paper sounds a lot more boring than the captivating presentation that ensues in person. The sing-along aspect is fun. The narrators are hilarious. The informal nature of the proceedings help us relax a bit; we needn't be on our best behavior as with most \"shows.\" While some may have expected or even preferred a more traditional musical or find it lazy to seemingly pop in a DVD and press play, there's still value in the uniqueness of what happens here if you're willing to let yourself get as excited about it as the narrators are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In California, this show replaced <em>MuppetVision 3D<\/em>, but didn't last long. It closed when <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em>, a much grander production, opened in 2016. The theater where the sing-along was held was a preview center for new Disney films for a few years. Today, it presents <em>Mickey's PhilharMagic<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Frozen-Holiday-Wish.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Holiday-Wish-Magic-Kingdom\" class=\"wp-image-21933\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>4) <em>A Frozen Holiday Wish<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2014-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember when I said <em>Frozen<\/em> sometimes displaced things? Yeeeaaaahhh. Buckle up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beginning in 2007, Disney adorned Cinderella Castle each Christmas season with gorgeous icicle lights. Photos don't do them justice. They're breathtaking. Every night, the lights would magically turn on for the evening with the help of Cinderella and her Fairy Godmother. This is, after all, Cinderella's home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon <em>Frozen<\/em>'s success, the writing was on the wall. This was low-hanging fruit. This was handed to Disney on a silver platter in a way that they'd be silly to neglect. Elsa had icy powers. This was the resort's iconic structure that turned to ice every Christmas season. It made sense for Elsa to now be included in the annual event. The way in which she was included, though, could have been handled a bit differently, in my opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Turns out, Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf are visiting this kingdom for the holidays. (They sure do visit neighboring kingdoms often, huh?) They remark about how beautiful the decorations are everywhere, but notice that the castle is missing decor. \"Elsa!\" Anna exclaims. \"Wouldn't it be great if you used your frozen fractiley powers to cover the castle in ice and snow?!\" Elsa replies, \"Anna, I'd love to, but I can't. This isn't our home. We're just visiting and we have to be respectful to the people who live here.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That seems like a perfect cue for the person who DOES live here, right? Instead of Cinderella appearing and giving her blessing, though, Anna literally has the guests peer pressure Elsa into making graffiti on the castle. Ok, ok, so maybe this wasn't meant to be analyzed with such scrutiny, but I can't shake that this could've gone a little different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite this nitpicking, the brief ceremony is a delight. It peppers in clever phrases from <em>Frozen<\/em>'s script throughout its dialogue and includes pleasant orchestral versions of <em>Frozen<\/em> songs and Christmas tunes alike in what is basically an eight minutes of stalled anticipation for the lights to follow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The spectacle itself is still the same as it's always been since 2007. The lights are no different, and are beautiful as ever. Simply the \"turning on\" ceremony each night is now void of Cinderella. Will Elsa be convicted of trespassing charges this year?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Live-Hyperion.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Live-Hyperion\" class=\"wp-image-54651\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>3) <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em><br>Disney California Adventure (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If <em>A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/em> at Disney's Hollywood Studios swerves expectations in an underwhelming (yet endearingly quirky) way, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> at Disney California Adventure swerves expectations in an overwhelming way. It's practically a mini Broadway musical, clocking in at 55 minutes and with the costuming and production value of anything you'd hope to find in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, in the performance I attended, most of the jokes were met with minimal laughter. It would stand to reason that as many times audiences in the room have seen <em>Frozen<\/em> over and over, hearing the same jokes simply aren't funny anymore. However, this could've just been the show I was at and not a common issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though it's nearly flawless, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> holds a sour reputation among some for replacing the phenomenal <em>Aladdin \u2014<\/em> <em>A Musical Spectacular<\/em>, which had performed in this space since 2003 and <strong>did<\/strong> vary up its script with different material and even topical jokes for Genie based on current events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tokyo-Disneyland-Frozen-Fantasy.png\" alt=\"Anna-Elsa-Frozen-Fantasy-Tokyo-Disneyland\" class=\"wp-image-54652\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>2) <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy<\/em><\/strong><br><strong>Tokyo Disneyland (2015-2018<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Imagine <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> from Disney's Hollywood Studios on steroids. Or, perhaps more realistically, with a much bigger budget. That's what <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy <\/em>was at Tokyo Disneyland. This was a seasonal Frozen festival on a grand scale that honestly put Hollywood Studios to shame. With a stronger parade, more park-wide activities, and more impressive fireworks, this celebration lasted four years, with its final season ending last year in 2018. Its big claim to fame? This was the only place in any Disney park to date where you could see Prince Hans.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Ever-After.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Ever-After-Epcot\" class=\"wp-image-54653\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>1.) <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Out this entire list, this is the only item to be a ride. Everything else is some form of live entertainment. Because of the investment and longevity that comes with building a permanent ride as well as the trajectory of influence this particular ride set into motion, it makes the top of our countdown as #1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frozen Ever After is a boat ride taking place after the events of <em>Frozen<\/em>. It's \"winter in summer\" day, celebrating the day on the calendar that Anna saved Elsa with an act of true love. To commemorate, we're invited to take a boat tour of Arendelle. Along the way, we see plenty of familiar faces and even hear a few familiar tunes. This structure is unique from most classic Disney rides of this same style in that <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> doesn't simply retell the events from <em>Frozen<\/em>, though the nature of it is so similar that if you're not paying close attention, you might think it does that anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With stellar Audio-Animatronics figures and even a bit of thrill, <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> is one of Epcot's best attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The context surrounding the ride is particularly curious, though. It replaced <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, a longstanding ride celebrating Norwegian culture. Despite being located within the Norway pavilion and even using the same track layout as <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, <em>Frozen Ever After <\/em>doesn't even try to work in Norwegian heritage into its narrative. At first, this seemed to be a departure of form for Epcot. Now that we're a few years after its opening and we know what Disney's building next, though, the ride was actually a taste of a new era for Epcot, one less occupied with education and more focused on characters. Future attractions will bring <em>Ratatouille<\/em> to the France pavilion and <em>Mary Poppins<\/em> to the United Kingdom pavilion. Elsewhere in the park, a <em>Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em> roller coaster will open (though that, at least, has been promised to include educational value somewhere within it). Whether this new direction for Epcot is exciting or apocalyptic depends on who you ask, but the park is for certain in the middle of a transformation toward a new version of itself, and one might point the beginning of that transformation back to Frozen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen-1024x401.png\" alt=\"Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54654\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It should come as no surprise that, now being an established staple of the Disney fold, Frozen is continuing to be used, perhaps now even more than ever. Following Epcot's lead, multiple permanent attractions are currently in development for Disney theme parks around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why* it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/Anna-Elsa-Hollywood-Studios.jpg\" alt=\"Anna-Elsa-Hollywood-Studios\" class=\"wp-image-16153\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>9) <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em><br>Disney's Hollywood Studios (2014-2015<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>People were Frozen crazy in the year following the film's initial release. Any appearance of Anna and Elsa within the theme parks was the equivalent of a celebrity sighting, and families went nuts. While plans were put into development for a permanent <em>Frozen<\/em> ride, to satisfy demand in the meantime Disney instated <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For two summers, Disney's Hollywood Studios became a celebration of all things <em>Frozen<\/em>. This included a processional through the park, a small show in which Olaf basked in his summertime glory, fireworks set to music from the film, and a sing-along stage show that would inadvertently become a permanent offering for the park (more on that later). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In reflection, perhaps the most intriguing aspect of <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> was the way it set up its narrative. With any resort, there wouldn't need to be any \"story\" or \"justification\" for what was essentially a festival celebrating a movie. This being Disney, though, there actually was a set-up for all of this. In a traveling tour of various kingdoms, Anna and Elsa visit \"Hollywoodland\" for the summer to greet its citizens and enjoy the season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The 2015 version of <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> was part of a larger \"Coolest Summer Ever\" campaign across all of Walt Disney World, kicked off by a 24-hour special event at Magic Kingdom hosted by Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Festival-of-Fantasy.jpg\" alt=\"Festival-of-Fantasy-Parade-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54647\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>8) <em>Festival of Fantasy Parade<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2014-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It's true that Frozen is one of many films highlighted in Magic Kingdom's daily Festival of Fantasy Parade. The production is hardly exclusive to Arendellians, also featuring practically Disney's whole library of animated classics, from <em>Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs<\/em> to <em>Brave<\/em>. But it's <em>Frozen<\/em>'s influence within the parade that places it on this list. If we're talking about impact and influence, which we are, this is a prime example of <em>Frozen<\/em> beginning to misplace fellow Disney brethren, for better or for worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Allow me to explain. When <em>Festival of Fantasy<\/em> debuted in spring 2014, it was slated to feature Princess Aurora on a garden float along with other Disney princesses. The soundtrack for that float even included \"Once Upon a Dream\" in its medley of princess songs. Then <em>Frozen<\/em> happened. People wanted to see Anna and Elsa when they came to Disney World, and would surely expect to see them in a new parade. But there wasn't enough time to include an entire <em>Frozen<\/em> float into the parade. It would have to be part of an existing unit. It would have to replace something already planned. Who got the boot? Princess Aurora. Her portion of the princess float was reconstructed to resemble Elsa's icy palace, and Anna and Elsa proudly rode upon it when the parade debuted. In an interesting twist, though, there wasn't enough time to record a new version of the parade's soundtrack before it debuted. So on opening day, the float still played \"Once Upon a Dream\" despite Aurora being completely absent. It wasn't until a few months later than the float would abridge its medley to include \"For the First Time In Forever\" and \"Let It Go.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This was the first big instance of Frozen forcing other Disney properties out of the way. As we'll see later on, it wouldn't be the last.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Royal-Sommerhus.jpg\" alt=\"Epcot-Royal-Sommerhus\" class=\"wp-image-54648\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>7) <em>Royal Sommerhus<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We've established that Disney park guests went gaga when Anna and Elsa showed up anywhere. So of course, the ultimate souvenir from a Disney trip at the peak of <em>Frozen<\/em> pandemonium was a family photo with the famous sisters. The demand, though, became overwhelming. At the time of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release, Anna and Elsa were crammed into a small room in Epcot's Norway pavilion (unknowingly a prophecy of things later to come). Lines became too long for even Disney to properly manage at this location, so the sisters were moved to Magic Kingdom's <em>Princess Fairytale Hall<\/em>, a spot that has much more capacity to hold large volumes of waiting guests and can get them through the line quicker thanks to some Disney magic behind the scenes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon the opening of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> (don't worry, we'll get to it) at Epcot in 2016, <em>Royal Sommerhus<\/em> opened along with it as the permanent meet & greet location for Anna and Elsa. While essentially the attraction exists for the sole purpose of being a photo-op with Anna and Elsa, it does slightly build upon the world of Frozen in a new way that no movie shows us. This, as it's presented to us, is a summer home that Anna and Elsa's parents would take them for family visits. While in line, we even see remnants of the sisters' childhoods. It remains the forever home that Walt Disney World guests know they can always find Arendelle royalty all day long, every day, eliminating a wild goose chase to track down a photo as is the case with some characters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Mickey-Friendship-Faire.jpeg\" alt=\"Mickeys-Royal-Friendship-Faire\" class=\"wp-image-54649\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>6) <em>Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This stage show in front of Cinderella Castle incidentally celebrates, in chronological order, the peak films of the Disney Revival: <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), and <em>Frozen<\/em> (2013). In context of our <em>Frozen <\/em>countdown, the most fascinating quality that Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire offers is the interactions of Mickey and the gang with the royalty of the Disney animated films. Unlike, say, Cinderella or Peter Pan, who Mickey has seen often and seems to know quite well, this show presents each character as the first time they've ever been part of a Disney spectacle like this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This means that we literally get to see Anna, Elsa, and Olaf introduce themselves to Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Think about the magnitude of that sentence. These are generations of Disney coming together before our eyes, tangibly greeting one another for the very first time. As a fan, this is an interesting opportunity and not one that I think many expected to be part of this show's proceedings when it opened in 2016. Also of note is that Minnie has heard of Anna and Elsa. In fact, she's a fangirl. Mickey's set up the sisters' arrival as a surprise to Minnie, and the mouse, like many in the audience, goes crazy. \"From the moment I heard your story, I admired you both so much.\" So did we.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/First-Time-In-Forever.jpg\" alt=\"First-Time-In-Forever-Frozen-Sing-Along-Celebration\" class=\"wp-image-54650\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>5) <\/strong><em><strong>For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/strong><\/em><strong><br>Disney's Hollywood Studios (2014-present)<br>Disney California Adventure (2015-2016<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This show is a carry-over from the temporary <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> (see above) that guests enjoyed so much at Disney's Hollywood Studios that Disney decided to make it permanent. That being said, it has the feel of something that didn't know it would be around for a long time. I'm not sure what guests expect upon entering For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration. Despite the words \"sing-along\" being in the title, I don't think many people expect the show to actually be as simple as watching clips from Frozen on a screen and singing along while narrators provide commentary. Yes, it has brief live appearances from Frozen characters, but this is not a full-scale musical retelling of the film as guests might expect from the precedence set by other shows throughout the park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That being said, the premise on paper sounds a lot more boring than the captivating presentation that ensues in person. The sing-along aspect is fun. The narrators are hilarious. The informal nature of the proceedings help us relax a bit; we needn't be on our best behavior as with most \"shows.\" While some may have expected or even preferred a more traditional musical or find it lazy to seemingly pop in a DVD and press play, there's still value in the uniqueness of what happens here if you're willing to let yourself get as excited about it as the narrators are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In California, this show replaced <em>MuppetVision 3D<\/em>, but didn't last long. It closed when <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em>, a much grander production, opened in 2016. The theater where the sing-along was held was a preview center for new Disney films for a few years. Today, it presents <em>Mickey's PhilharMagic<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Frozen-Holiday-Wish.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Holiday-Wish-Magic-Kingdom\" class=\"wp-image-21933\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>4) <em>A Frozen Holiday Wish<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2014-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember when I said <em>Frozen<\/em> sometimes displaced things? Yeeeaaaahhh. Buckle up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beginning in 2007, Disney adorned Cinderella Castle each Christmas season with gorgeous icicle lights. Photos don't do them justice. They're breathtaking. Every night, the lights would magically turn on for the evening with the help of Cinderella and her Fairy Godmother. This is, after all, Cinderella's home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon <em>Frozen<\/em>'s success, the writing was on the wall. This was low-hanging fruit. This was handed to Disney on a silver platter in a way that they'd be silly to neglect. Elsa had icy powers. This was the resort's iconic structure that turned to ice every Christmas season. It made sense for Elsa to now be included in the annual event. The way in which she was included, though, could have been handled a bit differently, in my opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Turns out, Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf are visiting this kingdom for the holidays. (They sure do visit neighboring kingdoms often, huh?) They remark about how beautiful the decorations are everywhere, but notice that the castle is missing decor. \"Elsa!\" Anna exclaims. \"Wouldn't it be great if you used your frozen fractiley powers to cover the castle in ice and snow?!\" Elsa replies, \"Anna, I'd love to, but I can't. This isn't our home. We're just visiting and we have to be respectful to the people who live here.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That seems like a perfect cue for the person who DOES live here, right? Instead of Cinderella appearing and giving her blessing, though, Anna literally has the guests peer pressure Elsa into making graffiti on the castle. Ok, ok, so maybe this wasn't meant to be analyzed with such scrutiny, but I can't shake that this could've gone a little different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite this nitpicking, the brief ceremony is a delight. It peppers in clever phrases from <em>Frozen<\/em>'s script throughout its dialogue and includes pleasant orchestral versions of <em>Frozen<\/em> songs and Christmas tunes alike in what is basically an eight minutes of stalled anticipation for the lights to follow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The spectacle itself is still the same as it's always been since 2007. The lights are no different, and are beautiful as ever. Simply the \"turning on\" ceremony each night is now void of Cinderella. Will Elsa be convicted of trespassing charges this year?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Live-Hyperion.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Live-Hyperion\" class=\"wp-image-54651\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>3) <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em><br>Disney California Adventure (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If <em>A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/em> at Disney's Hollywood Studios swerves expectations in an underwhelming (yet endearingly quirky) way, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> at Disney California Adventure swerves expectations in an overwhelming way. It's practically a mini Broadway musical, clocking in at 55 minutes and with the costuming and production value of anything you'd hope to find in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, in the performance I attended, most of the jokes were met with minimal laughter. It would stand to reason that as many times audiences in the room have seen <em>Frozen<\/em> over and over, hearing the same jokes simply aren't funny anymore. However, this could've just been the show I was at and not a common issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though it's nearly flawless, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> holds a sour reputation among some for replacing the phenomenal <em>Aladdin \u2014<\/em> <em>A Musical Spectacular<\/em>, which had performed in this space since 2003 and <strong>did<\/strong> vary up its script with different material and even topical jokes for Genie based on current events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tokyo-Disneyland-Frozen-Fantasy.png\" alt=\"Anna-Elsa-Frozen-Fantasy-Tokyo-Disneyland\" class=\"wp-image-54652\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>2) <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy<\/em><\/strong><br><strong>Tokyo Disneyland (2015-2018<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Imagine <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> from Disney's Hollywood Studios on steroids. Or, perhaps more realistically, with a much bigger budget. That's what <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy <\/em>was at Tokyo Disneyland. This was a seasonal Frozen festival on a grand scale that honestly put Hollywood Studios to shame. With a stronger parade, more park-wide activities, and more impressive fireworks, this celebration lasted four years, with its final season ending last year in 2018. Its big claim to fame? This was the only place in any Disney park to date where you could see Prince Hans.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Ever-After.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Ever-After-Epcot\" class=\"wp-image-54653\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>1.) <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Out this entire list, this is the only item to be a ride. Everything else is some form of live entertainment. Because of the investment and longevity that comes with building a permanent ride as well as the trajectory of influence this particular ride set into motion, it makes the top of our countdown as #1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frozen Ever After is a boat ride taking place after the events of <em>Frozen<\/em>. It's \"winter in summer\" day, celebrating the day on the calendar that Anna saved Elsa with an act of true love. To commemorate, we're invited to take a boat tour of Arendelle. Along the way, we see plenty of familiar faces and even hear a few familiar tunes. This structure is unique from most classic Disney rides of this same style in that <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> doesn't simply retell the events from <em>Frozen<\/em>, though the nature of it is so similar that if you're not paying close attention, you might think it does that anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With stellar Audio-Animatronics figures and even a bit of thrill, <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> is one of Epcot's best attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The context surrounding the ride is particularly curious, though. It replaced <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, a longstanding ride celebrating Norwegian culture. Despite being located within the Norway pavilion and even using the same track layout as <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, <em>Frozen Ever After <\/em>doesn't even try to work in Norwegian heritage into its narrative. At first, this seemed to be a departure of form for Epcot. Now that we're a few years after its opening and we know what Disney's building next, though, the ride was actually a taste of a new era for Epcot, one less occupied with education and more focused on characters. Future attractions will bring <em>Ratatouille<\/em> to the France pavilion and <em>Mary Poppins<\/em> to the United Kingdom pavilion. Elsewhere in the park, a <em>Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em> roller coaster will open (though that, at least, has been promised to include educational value somewhere within it). Whether this new direction for Epcot is exciting or apocalyptic depends on who you ask, but the park is for certain in the middle of a transformation toward a new version of itself, and one might point the beginning of that transformation back to Frozen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen-1024x401.png\" alt=\"Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54654\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It should come as no surprise that, now being an established staple of the Disney fold, Frozen is continuing to be used, perhaps now even more than ever. Following Epcot's lead, multiple permanent attractions are currently in development for Disney theme parks around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why* it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<p>World of Color is a nighttime water spectacular that first debuted in 2010. The show is often given seasonal makeovers, and 2013 saw the debut of a holiday-themed show, <em>Winter Dreams<\/em>, hosted by none other than Olaf. For 2013, this was pretty big news. This show premiered before <em>Frozen<\/em> released in theaters, so the show gave guests a first look into Olaf's personality. More importantly, though, it offered a glimpse at \"Let It Go,\" notorious even before it was widely heard. <em>Winter Dreams<\/em> only lasted three years, replaced by <em>World of Color: Season of Light<\/em> for the 2016 season moving forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/Anna-Elsa-Hollywood-Studios.jpg\" alt=\"Anna-Elsa-Hollywood-Studios\" class=\"wp-image-16153\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>9) <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em><br>Disney's Hollywood Studios (2014-2015<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>People were Frozen crazy in the year following the film's initial release. Any appearance of Anna and Elsa within the theme parks was the equivalent of a celebrity sighting, and families went nuts. While plans were put into development for a permanent <em>Frozen<\/em> ride, to satisfy demand in the meantime Disney instated <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For two summers, Disney's Hollywood Studios became a celebration of all things <em>Frozen<\/em>. This included a processional through the park, a small show in which Olaf basked in his summertime glory, fireworks set to music from the film, and a sing-along stage show that would inadvertently become a permanent offering for the park (more on that later). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In reflection, perhaps the most intriguing aspect of <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> was the way it set up its narrative. With any resort, there wouldn't need to be any \"story\" or \"justification\" for what was essentially a festival celebrating a movie. This being Disney, though, there actually was a set-up for all of this. In a traveling tour of various kingdoms, Anna and Elsa visit \"Hollywoodland\" for the summer to greet its citizens and enjoy the season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The 2015 version of <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> was part of a larger \"Coolest Summer Ever\" campaign across all of Walt Disney World, kicked off by a 24-hour special event at Magic Kingdom hosted by Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Festival-of-Fantasy.jpg\" alt=\"Festival-of-Fantasy-Parade-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54647\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>8) <em>Festival of Fantasy Parade<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2014-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It's true that Frozen is one of many films highlighted in Magic Kingdom's daily Festival of Fantasy Parade. The production is hardly exclusive to Arendellians, also featuring practically Disney's whole library of animated classics, from <em>Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs<\/em> to <em>Brave<\/em>. But it's <em>Frozen<\/em>'s influence within the parade that places it on this list. If we're talking about impact and influence, which we are, this is a prime example of <em>Frozen<\/em> beginning to misplace fellow Disney brethren, for better or for worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Allow me to explain. When <em>Festival of Fantasy<\/em> debuted in spring 2014, it was slated to feature Princess Aurora on a garden float along with other Disney princesses. The soundtrack for that float even included \"Once Upon a Dream\" in its medley of princess songs. Then <em>Frozen<\/em> happened. People wanted to see Anna and Elsa when they came to Disney World, and would surely expect to see them in a new parade. But there wasn't enough time to include an entire <em>Frozen<\/em> float into the parade. It would have to be part of an existing unit. It would have to replace something already planned. Who got the boot? Princess Aurora. Her portion of the princess float was reconstructed to resemble Elsa's icy palace, and Anna and Elsa proudly rode upon it when the parade debuted. In an interesting twist, though, there wasn't enough time to record a new version of the parade's soundtrack before it debuted. So on opening day, the float still played \"Once Upon a Dream\" despite Aurora being completely absent. It wasn't until a few months later than the float would abridge its medley to include \"For the First Time In Forever\" and \"Let It Go.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This was the first big instance of Frozen forcing other Disney properties out of the way. As we'll see later on, it wouldn't be the last.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Royal-Sommerhus.jpg\" alt=\"Epcot-Royal-Sommerhus\" class=\"wp-image-54648\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>7) <em>Royal Sommerhus<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We've established that Disney park guests went gaga when Anna and Elsa showed up anywhere. So of course, the ultimate souvenir from a Disney trip at the peak of <em>Frozen<\/em> pandemonium was a family photo with the famous sisters. The demand, though, became overwhelming. At the time of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release, Anna and Elsa were crammed into a small room in Epcot's Norway pavilion (unknowingly a prophecy of things later to come). Lines became too long for even Disney to properly manage at this location, so the sisters were moved to Magic Kingdom's <em>Princess Fairytale Hall<\/em>, a spot that has much more capacity to hold large volumes of waiting guests and can get them through the line quicker thanks to some Disney magic behind the scenes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon the opening of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> (don't worry, we'll get to it) at Epcot in 2016, <em>Royal Sommerhus<\/em> opened along with it as the permanent meet & greet location for Anna and Elsa. While essentially the attraction exists for the sole purpose of being a photo-op with Anna and Elsa, it does slightly build upon the world of Frozen in a new way that no movie shows us. This, as it's presented to us, is a summer home that Anna and Elsa's parents would take them for family visits. While in line, we even see remnants of the sisters' childhoods. It remains the forever home that Walt Disney World guests know they can always find Arendelle royalty all day long, every day, eliminating a wild goose chase to track down a photo as is the case with some characters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Mickey-Friendship-Faire.jpeg\" alt=\"Mickeys-Royal-Friendship-Faire\" class=\"wp-image-54649\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>6) <em>Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This stage show in front of Cinderella Castle incidentally celebrates, in chronological order, the peak films of the Disney Revival: <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), and <em>Frozen<\/em> (2013). In context of our <em>Frozen <\/em>countdown, the most fascinating quality that Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire offers is the interactions of Mickey and the gang with the royalty of the Disney animated films. Unlike, say, Cinderella or Peter Pan, who Mickey has seen often and seems to know quite well, this show presents each character as the first time they've ever been part of a Disney spectacle like this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This means that we literally get to see Anna, Elsa, and Olaf introduce themselves to Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Think about the magnitude of that sentence. These are generations of Disney coming together before our eyes, tangibly greeting one another for the very first time. As a fan, this is an interesting opportunity and not one that I think many expected to be part of this show's proceedings when it opened in 2016. Also of note is that Minnie has heard of Anna and Elsa. In fact, she's a fangirl. Mickey's set up the sisters' arrival as a surprise to Minnie, and the mouse, like many in the audience, goes crazy. \"From the moment I heard your story, I admired you both so much.\" So did we.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/First-Time-In-Forever.jpg\" alt=\"First-Time-In-Forever-Frozen-Sing-Along-Celebration\" class=\"wp-image-54650\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>5) <\/strong><em><strong>For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/strong><\/em><strong><br>Disney's Hollywood Studios (2014-present)<br>Disney California Adventure (2015-2016<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This show is a carry-over from the temporary <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> (see above) that guests enjoyed so much at Disney's Hollywood Studios that Disney decided to make it permanent. That being said, it has the feel of something that didn't know it would be around for a long time. I'm not sure what guests expect upon entering For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration. Despite the words \"sing-along\" being in the title, I don't think many people expect the show to actually be as simple as watching clips from Frozen on a screen and singing along while narrators provide commentary. Yes, it has brief live appearances from Frozen characters, but this is not a full-scale musical retelling of the film as guests might expect from the precedence set by other shows throughout the park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That being said, the premise on paper sounds a lot more boring than the captivating presentation that ensues in person. The sing-along aspect is fun. The narrators are hilarious. The informal nature of the proceedings help us relax a bit; we needn't be on our best behavior as with most \"shows.\" While some may have expected or even preferred a more traditional musical or find it lazy to seemingly pop in a DVD and press play, there's still value in the uniqueness of what happens here if you're willing to let yourself get as excited about it as the narrators are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In California, this show replaced <em>MuppetVision 3D<\/em>, but didn't last long. It closed when <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em>, a much grander production, opened in 2016. The theater where the sing-along was held was a preview center for new Disney films for a few years. Today, it presents <em>Mickey's PhilharMagic<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Frozen-Holiday-Wish.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Holiday-Wish-Magic-Kingdom\" class=\"wp-image-21933\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>4) <em>A Frozen Holiday Wish<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2014-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember when I said <em>Frozen<\/em> sometimes displaced things? Yeeeaaaahhh. Buckle up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beginning in 2007, Disney adorned Cinderella Castle each Christmas season with gorgeous icicle lights. Photos don't do them justice. They're breathtaking. Every night, the lights would magically turn on for the evening with the help of Cinderella and her Fairy Godmother. This is, after all, Cinderella's home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon <em>Frozen<\/em>'s success, the writing was on the wall. This was low-hanging fruit. This was handed to Disney on a silver platter in a way that they'd be silly to neglect. Elsa had icy powers. This was the resort's iconic structure that turned to ice every Christmas season. It made sense for Elsa to now be included in the annual event. The way in which she was included, though, could have been handled a bit differently, in my opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Turns out, Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf are visiting this kingdom for the holidays. (They sure do visit neighboring kingdoms often, huh?) They remark about how beautiful the decorations are everywhere, but notice that the castle is missing decor. \"Elsa!\" Anna exclaims. \"Wouldn't it be great if you used your frozen fractiley powers to cover the castle in ice and snow?!\" Elsa replies, \"Anna, I'd love to, but I can't. This isn't our home. We're just visiting and we have to be respectful to the people who live here.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That seems like a perfect cue for the person who DOES live here, right? Instead of Cinderella appearing and giving her blessing, though, Anna literally has the guests peer pressure Elsa into making graffiti on the castle. Ok, ok, so maybe this wasn't meant to be analyzed with such scrutiny, but I can't shake that this could've gone a little different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite this nitpicking, the brief ceremony is a delight. It peppers in clever phrases from <em>Frozen<\/em>'s script throughout its dialogue and includes pleasant orchestral versions of <em>Frozen<\/em> songs and Christmas tunes alike in what is basically an eight minutes of stalled anticipation for the lights to follow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The spectacle itself is still the same as it's always been since 2007. The lights are no different, and are beautiful as ever. Simply the \"turning on\" ceremony each night is now void of Cinderella. Will Elsa be convicted of trespassing charges this year?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Live-Hyperion.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Live-Hyperion\" class=\"wp-image-54651\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>3) <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em><br>Disney California Adventure (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If <em>A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/em> at Disney's Hollywood Studios swerves expectations in an underwhelming (yet endearingly quirky) way, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> at Disney California Adventure swerves expectations in an overwhelming way. It's practically a mini Broadway musical, clocking in at 55 minutes and with the costuming and production value of anything you'd hope to find in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, in the performance I attended, most of the jokes were met with minimal laughter. It would stand to reason that as many times audiences in the room have seen <em>Frozen<\/em> over and over, hearing the same jokes simply aren't funny anymore. However, this could've just been the show I was at and not a common issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though it's nearly flawless, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> holds a sour reputation among some for replacing the phenomenal <em>Aladdin \u2014<\/em> <em>A Musical Spectacular<\/em>, which had performed in this space since 2003 and <strong>did<\/strong> vary up its script with different material and even topical jokes for Genie based on current events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tokyo-Disneyland-Frozen-Fantasy.png\" alt=\"Anna-Elsa-Frozen-Fantasy-Tokyo-Disneyland\" class=\"wp-image-54652\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>2) <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy<\/em><\/strong><br><strong>Tokyo Disneyland (2015-2018<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Imagine <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> from Disney's Hollywood Studios on steroids. Or, perhaps more realistically, with a much bigger budget. That's what <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy <\/em>was at Tokyo Disneyland. This was a seasonal Frozen festival on a grand scale that honestly put Hollywood Studios to shame. With a stronger parade, more park-wide activities, and more impressive fireworks, this celebration lasted four years, with its final season ending last year in 2018. Its big claim to fame? This was the only place in any Disney park to date where you could see Prince Hans.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Ever-After.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Ever-After-Epcot\" class=\"wp-image-54653\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>1.) <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Out this entire list, this is the only item to be a ride. Everything else is some form of live entertainment. Because of the investment and longevity that comes with building a permanent ride as well as the trajectory of influence this particular ride set into motion, it makes the top of our countdown as #1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frozen Ever After is a boat ride taking place after the events of <em>Frozen<\/em>. It's \"winter in summer\" day, celebrating the day on the calendar that Anna saved Elsa with an act of true love. To commemorate, we're invited to take a boat tour of Arendelle. Along the way, we see plenty of familiar faces and even hear a few familiar tunes. This structure is unique from most classic Disney rides of this same style in that <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> doesn't simply retell the events from <em>Frozen<\/em>, though the nature of it is so similar that if you're not paying close attention, you might think it does that anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With stellar Audio-Animatronics figures and even a bit of thrill, <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> is one of Epcot's best attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The context surrounding the ride is particularly curious, though. It replaced <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, a longstanding ride celebrating Norwegian culture. Despite being located within the Norway pavilion and even using the same track layout as <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, <em>Frozen Ever After <\/em>doesn't even try to work in Norwegian heritage into its narrative. At first, this seemed to be a departure of form for Epcot. Now that we're a few years after its opening and we know what Disney's building next, though, the ride was actually a taste of a new era for Epcot, one less occupied with education and more focused on characters. Future attractions will bring <em>Ratatouille<\/em> to the France pavilion and <em>Mary Poppins<\/em> to the United Kingdom pavilion. Elsewhere in the park, a <em>Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em> roller coaster will open (though that, at least, has been promised to include educational value somewhere within it). Whether this new direction for Epcot is exciting or apocalyptic depends on who you ask, but the park is for certain in the middle of a transformation toward a new version of itself, and one might point the beginning of that transformation back to Frozen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen-1024x401.png\" alt=\"Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54654\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It should come as no surprise that, now being an established staple of the Disney fold, Frozen is continuing to be used, perhaps now even more than ever. Following Epcot's lead, multiple permanent attractions are currently in development for Disney theme parks around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why* it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<h2><strong>10) <em>World of Color: Winter Dreams<\/em><br>Disney California Adventure (2013-2015<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>World of Color is a nighttime water spectacular that first debuted in 2010. The show is often given seasonal makeovers, and 2013 saw the debut of a holiday-themed show, <em>Winter Dreams<\/em>, hosted by none other than Olaf. For 2013, this was pretty big news. This show premiered before <em>Frozen<\/em> released in theaters, so the show gave guests a first look into Olaf's personality. More importantly, though, it offered a glimpse at \"Let It Go,\" notorious even before it was widely heard. <em>Winter Dreams<\/em> only lasted three years, replaced by <em>World of Color: Season of Light<\/em> for the 2016 season moving forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/Anna-Elsa-Hollywood-Studios.jpg\" alt=\"Anna-Elsa-Hollywood-Studios\" class=\"wp-image-16153\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>9) <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em><br>Disney's Hollywood Studios (2014-2015<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>People were Frozen crazy in the year following the film's initial release. Any appearance of Anna and Elsa within the theme parks was the equivalent of a celebrity sighting, and families went nuts. While plans were put into development for a permanent <em>Frozen<\/em> ride, to satisfy demand in the meantime Disney instated <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For two summers, Disney's Hollywood Studios became a celebration of all things <em>Frozen<\/em>. This included a processional through the park, a small show in which Olaf basked in his summertime glory, fireworks set to music from the film, and a sing-along stage show that would inadvertently become a permanent offering for the park (more on that later). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In reflection, perhaps the most intriguing aspect of <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> was the way it set up its narrative. With any resort, there wouldn't need to be any \"story\" or \"justification\" for what was essentially a festival celebrating a movie. This being Disney, though, there actually was a set-up for all of this. In a traveling tour of various kingdoms, Anna and Elsa visit \"Hollywoodland\" for the summer to greet its citizens and enjoy the season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The 2015 version of <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> was part of a larger \"Coolest Summer Ever\" campaign across all of Walt Disney World, kicked off by a 24-hour special event at Magic Kingdom hosted by Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Festival-of-Fantasy.jpg\" alt=\"Festival-of-Fantasy-Parade-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54647\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>8) <em>Festival of Fantasy Parade<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2014-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It's true that Frozen is one of many films highlighted in Magic Kingdom's daily Festival of Fantasy Parade. The production is hardly exclusive to Arendellians, also featuring practically Disney's whole library of animated classics, from <em>Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs<\/em> to <em>Brave<\/em>. But it's <em>Frozen<\/em>'s influence within the parade that places it on this list. If we're talking about impact and influence, which we are, this is a prime example of <em>Frozen<\/em> beginning to misplace fellow Disney brethren, for better or for worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Allow me to explain. When <em>Festival of Fantasy<\/em> debuted in spring 2014, it was slated to feature Princess Aurora on a garden float along with other Disney princesses. The soundtrack for that float even included \"Once Upon a Dream\" in its medley of princess songs. Then <em>Frozen<\/em> happened. People wanted to see Anna and Elsa when they came to Disney World, and would surely expect to see them in a new parade. But there wasn't enough time to include an entire <em>Frozen<\/em> float into the parade. It would have to be part of an existing unit. It would have to replace something already planned. Who got the boot? Princess Aurora. Her portion of the princess float was reconstructed to resemble Elsa's icy palace, and Anna and Elsa proudly rode upon it when the parade debuted. In an interesting twist, though, there wasn't enough time to record a new version of the parade's soundtrack before it debuted. So on opening day, the float still played \"Once Upon a Dream\" despite Aurora being completely absent. It wasn't until a few months later than the float would abridge its medley to include \"For the First Time In Forever\" and \"Let It Go.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This was the first big instance of Frozen forcing other Disney properties out of the way. As we'll see later on, it wouldn't be the last.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Royal-Sommerhus.jpg\" alt=\"Epcot-Royal-Sommerhus\" class=\"wp-image-54648\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>7) <em>Royal Sommerhus<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We've established that Disney park guests went gaga when Anna and Elsa showed up anywhere. So of course, the ultimate souvenir from a Disney trip at the peak of <em>Frozen<\/em> pandemonium was a family photo with the famous sisters. The demand, though, became overwhelming. At the time of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release, Anna and Elsa were crammed into a small room in Epcot's Norway pavilion (unknowingly a prophecy of things later to come). Lines became too long for even Disney to properly manage at this location, so the sisters were moved to Magic Kingdom's <em>Princess Fairytale Hall<\/em>, a spot that has much more capacity to hold large volumes of waiting guests and can get them through the line quicker thanks to some Disney magic behind the scenes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon the opening of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> (don't worry, we'll get to it) at Epcot in 2016, <em>Royal Sommerhus<\/em> opened along with it as the permanent meet & greet location for Anna and Elsa. While essentially the attraction exists for the sole purpose of being a photo-op with Anna and Elsa, it does slightly build upon the world of Frozen in a new way that no movie shows us. This, as it's presented to us, is a summer home that Anna and Elsa's parents would take them for family visits. While in line, we even see remnants of the sisters' childhoods. It remains the forever home that Walt Disney World guests know they can always find Arendelle royalty all day long, every day, eliminating a wild goose chase to track down a photo as is the case with some characters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Mickey-Friendship-Faire.jpeg\" alt=\"Mickeys-Royal-Friendship-Faire\" class=\"wp-image-54649\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>6) <em>Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This stage show in front of Cinderella Castle incidentally celebrates, in chronological order, the peak films of the Disney Revival: <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), and <em>Frozen<\/em> (2013). In context of our <em>Frozen <\/em>countdown, the most fascinating quality that Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire offers is the interactions of Mickey and the gang with the royalty of the Disney animated films. Unlike, say, Cinderella or Peter Pan, who Mickey has seen often and seems to know quite well, this show presents each character as the first time they've ever been part of a Disney spectacle like this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This means that we literally get to see Anna, Elsa, and Olaf introduce themselves to Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Think about the magnitude of that sentence. These are generations of Disney coming together before our eyes, tangibly greeting one another for the very first time. As a fan, this is an interesting opportunity and not one that I think many expected to be part of this show's proceedings when it opened in 2016. Also of note is that Minnie has heard of Anna and Elsa. In fact, she's a fangirl. Mickey's set up the sisters' arrival as a surprise to Minnie, and the mouse, like many in the audience, goes crazy. \"From the moment I heard your story, I admired you both so much.\" So did we.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/First-Time-In-Forever.jpg\" alt=\"First-Time-In-Forever-Frozen-Sing-Along-Celebration\" class=\"wp-image-54650\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>5) <\/strong><em><strong>For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/strong><\/em><strong><br>Disney's Hollywood Studios (2014-present)<br>Disney California Adventure (2015-2016<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This show is a carry-over from the temporary <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> (see above) that guests enjoyed so much at Disney's Hollywood Studios that Disney decided to make it permanent. That being said, it has the feel of something that didn't know it would be around for a long time. I'm not sure what guests expect upon entering For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration. Despite the words \"sing-along\" being in the title, I don't think many people expect the show to actually be as simple as watching clips from Frozen on a screen and singing along while narrators provide commentary. Yes, it has brief live appearances from Frozen characters, but this is not a full-scale musical retelling of the film as guests might expect from the precedence set by other shows throughout the park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That being said, the premise on paper sounds a lot more boring than the captivating presentation that ensues in person. The sing-along aspect is fun. The narrators are hilarious. The informal nature of the proceedings help us relax a bit; we needn't be on our best behavior as with most \"shows.\" While some may have expected or even preferred a more traditional musical or find it lazy to seemingly pop in a DVD and press play, there's still value in the uniqueness of what happens here if you're willing to let yourself get as excited about it as the narrators are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In California, this show replaced <em>MuppetVision 3D<\/em>, but didn't last long. It closed when <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em>, a much grander production, opened in 2016. The theater where the sing-along was held was a preview center for new Disney films for a few years. Today, it presents <em>Mickey's PhilharMagic<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Frozen-Holiday-Wish.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Holiday-Wish-Magic-Kingdom\" class=\"wp-image-21933\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>4) <em>A Frozen Holiday Wish<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2014-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember when I said <em>Frozen<\/em> sometimes displaced things? Yeeeaaaahhh. Buckle up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beginning in 2007, Disney adorned Cinderella Castle each Christmas season with gorgeous icicle lights. Photos don't do them justice. They're breathtaking. Every night, the lights would magically turn on for the evening with the help of Cinderella and her Fairy Godmother. This is, after all, Cinderella's home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon <em>Frozen<\/em>'s success, the writing was on the wall. This was low-hanging fruit. This was handed to Disney on a silver platter in a way that they'd be silly to neglect. Elsa had icy powers. This was the resort's iconic structure that turned to ice every Christmas season. It made sense for Elsa to now be included in the annual event. The way in which she was included, though, could have been handled a bit differently, in my opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Turns out, Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf are visiting this kingdom for the holidays. (They sure do visit neighboring kingdoms often, huh?) They remark about how beautiful the decorations are everywhere, but notice that the castle is missing decor. \"Elsa!\" Anna exclaims. \"Wouldn't it be great if you used your frozen fractiley powers to cover the castle in ice and snow?!\" Elsa replies, \"Anna, I'd love to, but I can't. This isn't our home. We're just visiting and we have to be respectful to the people who live here.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That seems like a perfect cue for the person who DOES live here, right? Instead of Cinderella appearing and giving her blessing, though, Anna literally has the guests peer pressure Elsa into making graffiti on the castle. Ok, ok, so maybe this wasn't meant to be analyzed with such scrutiny, but I can't shake that this could've gone a little different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite this nitpicking, the brief ceremony is a delight. It peppers in clever phrases from <em>Frozen<\/em>'s script throughout its dialogue and includes pleasant orchestral versions of <em>Frozen<\/em> songs and Christmas tunes alike in what is basically an eight minutes of stalled anticipation for the lights to follow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The spectacle itself is still the same as it's always been since 2007. The lights are no different, and are beautiful as ever. Simply the \"turning on\" ceremony each night is now void of Cinderella. Will Elsa be convicted of trespassing charges this year?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Live-Hyperion.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Live-Hyperion\" class=\"wp-image-54651\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>3) <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em><br>Disney California Adventure (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If <em>A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/em> at Disney's Hollywood Studios swerves expectations in an underwhelming (yet endearingly quirky) way, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> at Disney California Adventure swerves expectations in an overwhelming way. It's practically a mini Broadway musical, clocking in at 55 minutes and with the costuming and production value of anything you'd hope to find in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, in the performance I attended, most of the jokes were met with minimal laughter. It would stand to reason that as many times audiences in the room have seen <em>Frozen<\/em> over and over, hearing the same jokes simply aren't funny anymore. However, this could've just been the show I was at and not a common issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though it's nearly flawless, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> holds a sour reputation among some for replacing the phenomenal <em>Aladdin \u2014<\/em> <em>A Musical Spectacular<\/em>, which had performed in this space since 2003 and <strong>did<\/strong> vary up its script with different material and even topical jokes for Genie based on current events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tokyo-Disneyland-Frozen-Fantasy.png\" alt=\"Anna-Elsa-Frozen-Fantasy-Tokyo-Disneyland\" class=\"wp-image-54652\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>2) <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy<\/em><\/strong><br><strong>Tokyo Disneyland (2015-2018<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Imagine <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> from Disney's Hollywood Studios on steroids. Or, perhaps more realistically, with a much bigger budget. That's what <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy <\/em>was at Tokyo Disneyland. This was a seasonal Frozen festival on a grand scale that honestly put Hollywood Studios to shame. With a stronger parade, more park-wide activities, and more impressive fireworks, this celebration lasted four years, with its final season ending last year in 2018. Its big claim to fame? This was the only place in any Disney park to date where you could see Prince Hans.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Ever-After.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Ever-After-Epcot\" class=\"wp-image-54653\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>1.) <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Out this entire list, this is the only item to be a ride. Everything else is some form of live entertainment. Because of the investment and longevity that comes with building a permanent ride as well as the trajectory of influence this particular ride set into motion, it makes the top of our countdown as #1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frozen Ever After is a boat ride taking place after the events of <em>Frozen<\/em>. It's \"winter in summer\" day, celebrating the day on the calendar that Anna saved Elsa with an act of true love. To commemorate, we're invited to take a boat tour of Arendelle. Along the way, we see plenty of familiar faces and even hear a few familiar tunes. This structure is unique from most classic Disney rides of this same style in that <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> doesn't simply retell the events from <em>Frozen<\/em>, though the nature of it is so similar that if you're not paying close attention, you might think it does that anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With stellar Audio-Animatronics figures and even a bit of thrill, <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> is one of Epcot's best attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The context surrounding the ride is particularly curious, though. It replaced <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, a longstanding ride celebrating Norwegian culture. Despite being located within the Norway pavilion and even using the same track layout as <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, <em>Frozen Ever After <\/em>doesn't even try to work in Norwegian heritage into its narrative. At first, this seemed to be a departure of form for Epcot. Now that we're a few years after its opening and we know what Disney's building next, though, the ride was actually a taste of a new era for Epcot, one less occupied with education and more focused on characters. Future attractions will bring <em>Ratatouille<\/em> to the France pavilion and <em>Mary Poppins<\/em> to the United Kingdom pavilion. Elsewhere in the park, a <em>Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em> roller coaster will open (though that, at least, has been promised to include educational value somewhere within it). Whether this new direction for Epcot is exciting or apocalyptic depends on who you ask, but the park is for certain in the middle of a transformation toward a new version of itself, and one might point the beginning of that transformation back to Frozen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen-1024x401.png\" alt=\"Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54654\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It should come as no surprise that, now being an established staple of the Disney fold, Frozen is continuing to be used, perhaps now even more than ever. Following Epcot's lead, multiple permanent attractions are currently in development for Disney theme parks around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why* it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Fullscreen-capture-7252013-11713-PM.bmp-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"World-of-Color-Winter-Dreams-at-Disney-California-Adventure-starring-Olaf-from-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-6349\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>10) <em>World of Color: Winter Dreams<\/em><br>Disney California Adventure (2013-2015<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>World of Color is a nighttime water spectacular that first debuted in 2010. The show is often given seasonal makeovers, and 2013 saw the debut of a holiday-themed show, <em>Winter Dreams<\/em>, hosted by none other than Olaf. For 2013, this was pretty big news. This show premiered before <em>Frozen<\/em> released in theaters, so the show gave guests a first look into Olaf's personality. More importantly, though, it offered a glimpse at \"Let It Go,\" notorious even before it was widely heard. <em>Winter Dreams<\/em> only lasted three years, replaced by <em>World of Color: Season of Light<\/em> for the 2016 season moving forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/Anna-Elsa-Hollywood-Studios.jpg\" alt=\"Anna-Elsa-Hollywood-Studios\" class=\"wp-image-16153\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>9) <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em><br>Disney's Hollywood Studios (2014-2015<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>People were Frozen crazy in the year following the film's initial release. Any appearance of Anna and Elsa within the theme parks was the equivalent of a celebrity sighting, and families went nuts. While plans were put into development for a permanent <em>Frozen<\/em> ride, to satisfy demand in the meantime Disney instated <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For two summers, Disney's Hollywood Studios became a celebration of all things <em>Frozen<\/em>. This included a processional through the park, a small show in which Olaf basked in his summertime glory, fireworks set to music from the film, and a sing-along stage show that would inadvertently become a permanent offering for the park (more on that later). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In reflection, perhaps the most intriguing aspect of <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> was the way it set up its narrative. With any resort, there wouldn't need to be any \"story\" or \"justification\" for what was essentially a festival celebrating a movie. This being Disney, though, there actually was a set-up for all of this. In a traveling tour of various kingdoms, Anna and Elsa visit \"Hollywoodland\" for the summer to greet its citizens and enjoy the season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The 2015 version of <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> was part of a larger \"Coolest Summer Ever\" campaign across all of Walt Disney World, kicked off by a 24-hour special event at Magic Kingdom hosted by Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Festival-of-Fantasy.jpg\" alt=\"Festival-of-Fantasy-Parade-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54647\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>8) <em>Festival of Fantasy Parade<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2014-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It's true that Frozen is one of many films highlighted in Magic Kingdom's daily Festival of Fantasy Parade. The production is hardly exclusive to Arendellians, also featuring practically Disney's whole library of animated classics, from <em>Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs<\/em> to <em>Brave<\/em>. But it's <em>Frozen<\/em>'s influence within the parade that places it on this list. If we're talking about impact and influence, which we are, this is a prime example of <em>Frozen<\/em> beginning to misplace fellow Disney brethren, for better or for worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Allow me to explain. When <em>Festival of Fantasy<\/em> debuted in spring 2014, it was slated to feature Princess Aurora on a garden float along with other Disney princesses. The soundtrack for that float even included \"Once Upon a Dream\" in its medley of princess songs. Then <em>Frozen<\/em> happened. People wanted to see Anna and Elsa when they came to Disney World, and would surely expect to see them in a new parade. But there wasn't enough time to include an entire <em>Frozen<\/em> float into the parade. It would have to be part of an existing unit. It would have to replace something already planned. Who got the boot? Princess Aurora. Her portion of the princess float was reconstructed to resemble Elsa's icy palace, and Anna and Elsa proudly rode upon it when the parade debuted. In an interesting twist, though, there wasn't enough time to record a new version of the parade's soundtrack before it debuted. So on opening day, the float still played \"Once Upon a Dream\" despite Aurora being completely absent. It wasn't until a few months later than the float would abridge its medley to include \"For the First Time In Forever\" and \"Let It Go.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This was the first big instance of Frozen forcing other Disney properties out of the way. As we'll see later on, it wouldn't be the last.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Royal-Sommerhus.jpg\" alt=\"Epcot-Royal-Sommerhus\" class=\"wp-image-54648\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>7) <em>Royal Sommerhus<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We've established that Disney park guests went gaga when Anna and Elsa showed up anywhere. So of course, the ultimate souvenir from a Disney trip at the peak of <em>Frozen<\/em> pandemonium was a family photo with the famous sisters. The demand, though, became overwhelming. At the time of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release, Anna and Elsa were crammed into a small room in Epcot's Norway pavilion (unknowingly a prophecy of things later to come). Lines became too long for even Disney to properly manage at this location, so the sisters were moved to Magic Kingdom's <em>Princess Fairytale Hall<\/em>, a spot that has much more capacity to hold large volumes of waiting guests and can get them through the line quicker thanks to some Disney magic behind the scenes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon the opening of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> (don't worry, we'll get to it) at Epcot in 2016, <em>Royal Sommerhus<\/em> opened along with it as the permanent meet & greet location for Anna and Elsa. While essentially the attraction exists for the sole purpose of being a photo-op with Anna and Elsa, it does slightly build upon the world of Frozen in a new way that no movie shows us. This, as it's presented to us, is a summer home that Anna and Elsa's parents would take them for family visits. While in line, we even see remnants of the sisters' childhoods. It remains the forever home that Walt Disney World guests know they can always find Arendelle royalty all day long, every day, eliminating a wild goose chase to track down a photo as is the case with some characters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Mickey-Friendship-Faire.jpeg\" alt=\"Mickeys-Royal-Friendship-Faire\" class=\"wp-image-54649\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>6) <em>Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This stage show in front of Cinderella Castle incidentally celebrates, in chronological order, the peak films of the Disney Revival: <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), and <em>Frozen<\/em> (2013). In context of our <em>Frozen <\/em>countdown, the most fascinating quality that Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire offers is the interactions of Mickey and the gang with the royalty of the Disney animated films. Unlike, say, Cinderella or Peter Pan, who Mickey has seen often and seems to know quite well, this show presents each character as the first time they've ever been part of a Disney spectacle like this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This means that we literally get to see Anna, Elsa, and Olaf introduce themselves to Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Think about the magnitude of that sentence. These are generations of Disney coming together before our eyes, tangibly greeting one another for the very first time. As a fan, this is an interesting opportunity and not one that I think many expected to be part of this show's proceedings when it opened in 2016. Also of note is that Minnie has heard of Anna and Elsa. In fact, she's a fangirl. Mickey's set up the sisters' arrival as a surprise to Minnie, and the mouse, like many in the audience, goes crazy. \"From the moment I heard your story, I admired you both so much.\" So did we.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/First-Time-In-Forever.jpg\" alt=\"First-Time-In-Forever-Frozen-Sing-Along-Celebration\" class=\"wp-image-54650\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>5) <\/strong><em><strong>For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/strong><\/em><strong><br>Disney's Hollywood Studios (2014-present)<br>Disney California Adventure (2015-2016<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This show is a carry-over from the temporary <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> (see above) that guests enjoyed so much at Disney's Hollywood Studios that Disney decided to make it permanent. That being said, it has the feel of something that didn't know it would be around for a long time. I'm not sure what guests expect upon entering For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration. Despite the words \"sing-along\" being in the title, I don't think many people expect the show to actually be as simple as watching clips from Frozen on a screen and singing along while narrators provide commentary. Yes, it has brief live appearances from Frozen characters, but this is not a full-scale musical retelling of the film as guests might expect from the precedence set by other shows throughout the park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That being said, the premise on paper sounds a lot more boring than the captivating presentation that ensues in person. The sing-along aspect is fun. The narrators are hilarious. The informal nature of the proceedings help us relax a bit; we needn't be on our best behavior as with most \"shows.\" While some may have expected or even preferred a more traditional musical or find it lazy to seemingly pop in a DVD and press play, there's still value in the uniqueness of what happens here if you're willing to let yourself get as excited about it as the narrators are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In California, this show replaced <em>MuppetVision 3D<\/em>, but didn't last long. It closed when <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em>, a much grander production, opened in 2016. The theater where the sing-along was held was a preview center for new Disney films for a few years. Today, it presents <em>Mickey's PhilharMagic<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Frozen-Holiday-Wish.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Holiday-Wish-Magic-Kingdom\" class=\"wp-image-21933\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>4) <em>A Frozen Holiday Wish<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2014-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember when I said <em>Frozen<\/em> sometimes displaced things? Yeeeaaaahhh. Buckle up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beginning in 2007, Disney adorned Cinderella Castle each Christmas season with gorgeous icicle lights. Photos don't do them justice. They're breathtaking. Every night, the lights would magically turn on for the evening with the help of Cinderella and her Fairy Godmother. This is, after all, Cinderella's home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon <em>Frozen<\/em>'s success, the writing was on the wall. This was low-hanging fruit. This was handed to Disney on a silver platter in a way that they'd be silly to neglect. Elsa had icy powers. This was the resort's iconic structure that turned to ice every Christmas season. It made sense for Elsa to now be included in the annual event. The way in which she was included, though, could have been handled a bit differently, in my opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Turns out, Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf are visiting this kingdom for the holidays. (They sure do visit neighboring kingdoms often, huh?) They remark about how beautiful the decorations are everywhere, but notice that the castle is missing decor. \"Elsa!\" Anna exclaims. \"Wouldn't it be great if you used your frozen fractiley powers to cover the castle in ice and snow?!\" Elsa replies, \"Anna, I'd love to, but I can't. This isn't our home. We're just visiting and we have to be respectful to the people who live here.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That seems like a perfect cue for the person who DOES live here, right? Instead of Cinderella appearing and giving her blessing, though, Anna literally has the guests peer pressure Elsa into making graffiti on the castle. Ok, ok, so maybe this wasn't meant to be analyzed with such scrutiny, but I can't shake that this could've gone a little different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite this nitpicking, the brief ceremony is a delight. It peppers in clever phrases from <em>Frozen<\/em>'s script throughout its dialogue and includes pleasant orchestral versions of <em>Frozen<\/em> songs and Christmas tunes alike in what is basically an eight minutes of stalled anticipation for the lights to follow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The spectacle itself is still the same as it's always been since 2007. The lights are no different, and are beautiful as ever. Simply the \"turning on\" ceremony each night is now void of Cinderella. Will Elsa be convicted of trespassing charges this year?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Live-Hyperion.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Live-Hyperion\" class=\"wp-image-54651\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>3) <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em><br>Disney California Adventure (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If <em>A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/em> at Disney's Hollywood Studios swerves expectations in an underwhelming (yet endearingly quirky) way, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> at Disney California Adventure swerves expectations in an overwhelming way. It's practically a mini Broadway musical, clocking in at 55 minutes and with the costuming and production value of anything you'd hope to find in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, in the performance I attended, most of the jokes were met with minimal laughter. It would stand to reason that as many times audiences in the room have seen <em>Frozen<\/em> over and over, hearing the same jokes simply aren't funny anymore. However, this could've just been the show I was at and not a common issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though it's nearly flawless, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> holds a sour reputation among some for replacing the phenomenal <em>Aladdin \u2014<\/em> <em>A Musical Spectacular<\/em>, which had performed in this space since 2003 and <strong>did<\/strong> vary up its script with different material and even topical jokes for Genie based on current events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tokyo-Disneyland-Frozen-Fantasy.png\" alt=\"Anna-Elsa-Frozen-Fantasy-Tokyo-Disneyland\" class=\"wp-image-54652\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>2) <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy<\/em><\/strong><br><strong>Tokyo Disneyland (2015-2018<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Imagine <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> from Disney's Hollywood Studios on steroids. Or, perhaps more realistically, with a much bigger budget. That's what <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy <\/em>was at Tokyo Disneyland. This was a seasonal Frozen festival on a grand scale that honestly put Hollywood Studios to shame. With a stronger parade, more park-wide activities, and more impressive fireworks, this celebration lasted four years, with its final season ending last year in 2018. Its big claim to fame? This was the only place in any Disney park to date where you could see Prince Hans.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Ever-After.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Ever-After-Epcot\" class=\"wp-image-54653\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>1.) <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Out this entire list, this is the only item to be a ride. Everything else is some form of live entertainment. Because of the investment and longevity that comes with building a permanent ride as well as the trajectory of influence this particular ride set into motion, it makes the top of our countdown as #1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frozen Ever After is a boat ride taking place after the events of <em>Frozen<\/em>. It's \"winter in summer\" day, celebrating the day on the calendar that Anna saved Elsa with an act of true love. To commemorate, we're invited to take a boat tour of Arendelle. Along the way, we see plenty of familiar faces and even hear a few familiar tunes. This structure is unique from most classic Disney rides of this same style in that <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> doesn't simply retell the events from <em>Frozen<\/em>, though the nature of it is so similar that if you're not paying close attention, you might think it does that anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With stellar Audio-Animatronics figures and even a bit of thrill, <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> is one of Epcot's best attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The context surrounding the ride is particularly curious, though. It replaced <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, a longstanding ride celebrating Norwegian culture. Despite being located within the Norway pavilion and even using the same track layout as <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, <em>Frozen Ever After <\/em>doesn't even try to work in Norwegian heritage into its narrative. At first, this seemed to be a departure of form for Epcot. Now that we're a few years after its opening and we know what Disney's building next, though, the ride was actually a taste of a new era for Epcot, one less occupied with education and more focused on characters. Future attractions will bring <em>Ratatouille<\/em> to the France pavilion and <em>Mary Poppins<\/em> to the United Kingdom pavilion. Elsewhere in the park, a <em>Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em> roller coaster will open (though that, at least, has been promised to include educational value somewhere within it). Whether this new direction for Epcot is exciting or apocalyptic depends on who you ask, but the park is for certain in the middle of a transformation toward a new version of itself, and one might point the beginning of that transformation back to Frozen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen-1024x401.png\" alt=\"Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54654\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It should come as no surprise that, now being an established staple of the Disney fold, Frozen is continuing to be used, perhaps now even more than ever. Following Epcot's lead, multiple permanent attractions are currently in development for Disney theme parks around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why* it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<p>This list doesn't as much rank from worst to best in terms of quality, but rather counts down based on influence to the park in which the attraction resides or impact on the overall <em>Frozen<\/em> legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Fullscreen-capture-7252013-11713-PM.bmp-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"World-of-Color-Winter-Dreams-at-Disney-California-Adventure-starring-Olaf-from-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-6349\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>10) <em>World of Color: Winter Dreams<\/em><br>Disney California Adventure (2013-2015<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>World of Color is a nighttime water spectacular that first debuted in 2010. The show is often given seasonal makeovers, and 2013 saw the debut of a holiday-themed show, <em>Winter Dreams<\/em>, hosted by none other than Olaf. For 2013, this was pretty big news. This show premiered before <em>Frozen<\/em> released in theaters, so the show gave guests a first look into Olaf's personality. More importantly, though, it offered a glimpse at \"Let It Go,\" notorious even before it was widely heard. <em>Winter Dreams<\/em> only lasted three years, replaced by <em>World of Color: Season of Light<\/em> for the 2016 season moving forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/Anna-Elsa-Hollywood-Studios.jpg\" alt=\"Anna-Elsa-Hollywood-Studios\" class=\"wp-image-16153\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>9) <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em><br>Disney's Hollywood Studios (2014-2015<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>People were Frozen crazy in the year following the film's initial release. Any appearance of Anna and Elsa within the theme parks was the equivalent of a celebrity sighting, and families went nuts. While plans were put into development for a permanent <em>Frozen<\/em> ride, to satisfy demand in the meantime Disney instated <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For two summers, Disney's Hollywood Studios became a celebration of all things <em>Frozen<\/em>. This included a processional through the park, a small show in which Olaf basked in his summertime glory, fireworks set to music from the film, and a sing-along stage show that would inadvertently become a permanent offering for the park (more on that later). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In reflection, perhaps the most intriguing aspect of <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> was the way it set up its narrative. With any resort, there wouldn't need to be any \"story\" or \"justification\" for what was essentially a festival celebrating a movie. This being Disney, though, there actually was a set-up for all of this. In a traveling tour of various kingdoms, Anna and Elsa visit \"Hollywoodland\" for the summer to greet its citizens and enjoy the season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The 2015 version of <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> was part of a larger \"Coolest Summer Ever\" campaign across all of Walt Disney World, kicked off by a 24-hour special event at Magic Kingdom hosted by Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Festival-of-Fantasy.jpg\" alt=\"Festival-of-Fantasy-Parade-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54647\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>8) <em>Festival of Fantasy Parade<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2014-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It's true that Frozen is one of many films highlighted in Magic Kingdom's daily Festival of Fantasy Parade. The production is hardly exclusive to Arendellians, also featuring practically Disney's whole library of animated classics, from <em>Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs<\/em> to <em>Brave<\/em>. But it's <em>Frozen<\/em>'s influence within the parade that places it on this list. If we're talking about impact and influence, which we are, this is a prime example of <em>Frozen<\/em> beginning to misplace fellow Disney brethren, for better or for worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Allow me to explain. When <em>Festival of Fantasy<\/em> debuted in spring 2014, it was slated to feature Princess Aurora on a garden float along with other Disney princesses. The soundtrack for that float even included \"Once Upon a Dream\" in its medley of princess songs. Then <em>Frozen<\/em> happened. People wanted to see Anna and Elsa when they came to Disney World, and would surely expect to see them in a new parade. But there wasn't enough time to include an entire <em>Frozen<\/em> float into the parade. It would have to be part of an existing unit. It would have to replace something already planned. Who got the boot? Princess Aurora. Her portion of the princess float was reconstructed to resemble Elsa's icy palace, and Anna and Elsa proudly rode upon it when the parade debuted. In an interesting twist, though, there wasn't enough time to record a new version of the parade's soundtrack before it debuted. So on opening day, the float still played \"Once Upon a Dream\" despite Aurora being completely absent. It wasn't until a few months later than the float would abridge its medley to include \"For the First Time In Forever\" and \"Let It Go.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This was the first big instance of Frozen forcing other Disney properties out of the way. As we'll see later on, it wouldn't be the last.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Royal-Sommerhus.jpg\" alt=\"Epcot-Royal-Sommerhus\" class=\"wp-image-54648\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>7) <em>Royal Sommerhus<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We've established that Disney park guests went gaga when Anna and Elsa showed up anywhere. So of course, the ultimate souvenir from a Disney trip at the peak of <em>Frozen<\/em> pandemonium was a family photo with the famous sisters. The demand, though, became overwhelming. At the time of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release, Anna and Elsa were crammed into a small room in Epcot's Norway pavilion (unknowingly a prophecy of things later to come). Lines became too long for even Disney to properly manage at this location, so the sisters were moved to Magic Kingdom's <em>Princess Fairytale Hall<\/em>, a spot that has much more capacity to hold large volumes of waiting guests and can get them through the line quicker thanks to some Disney magic behind the scenes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon the opening of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> (don't worry, we'll get to it) at Epcot in 2016, <em>Royal Sommerhus<\/em> opened along with it as the permanent meet & greet location for Anna and Elsa. While essentially the attraction exists for the sole purpose of being a photo-op with Anna and Elsa, it does slightly build upon the world of Frozen in a new way that no movie shows us. This, as it's presented to us, is a summer home that Anna and Elsa's parents would take them for family visits. While in line, we even see remnants of the sisters' childhoods. It remains the forever home that Walt Disney World guests know they can always find Arendelle royalty all day long, every day, eliminating a wild goose chase to track down a photo as is the case with some characters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Mickey-Friendship-Faire.jpeg\" alt=\"Mickeys-Royal-Friendship-Faire\" class=\"wp-image-54649\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>6) <em>Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This stage show in front of Cinderella Castle incidentally celebrates, in chronological order, the peak films of the Disney Revival: <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), and <em>Frozen<\/em> (2013). In context of our <em>Frozen <\/em>countdown, the most fascinating quality that Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire offers is the interactions of Mickey and the gang with the royalty of the Disney animated films. Unlike, say, Cinderella or Peter Pan, who Mickey has seen often and seems to know quite well, this show presents each character as the first time they've ever been part of a Disney spectacle like this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This means that we literally get to see Anna, Elsa, and Olaf introduce themselves to Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Think about the magnitude of that sentence. These are generations of Disney coming together before our eyes, tangibly greeting one another for the very first time. As a fan, this is an interesting opportunity and not one that I think many expected to be part of this show's proceedings when it opened in 2016. Also of note is that Minnie has heard of Anna and Elsa. In fact, she's a fangirl. Mickey's set up the sisters' arrival as a surprise to Minnie, and the mouse, like many in the audience, goes crazy. \"From the moment I heard your story, I admired you both so much.\" So did we.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/First-Time-In-Forever.jpg\" alt=\"First-Time-In-Forever-Frozen-Sing-Along-Celebration\" class=\"wp-image-54650\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>5) <\/strong><em><strong>For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/strong><\/em><strong><br>Disney's Hollywood Studios (2014-present)<br>Disney California Adventure (2015-2016<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This show is a carry-over from the temporary <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> (see above) that guests enjoyed so much at Disney's Hollywood Studios that Disney decided to make it permanent. That being said, it has the feel of something that didn't know it would be around for a long time. I'm not sure what guests expect upon entering For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration. Despite the words \"sing-along\" being in the title, I don't think many people expect the show to actually be as simple as watching clips from Frozen on a screen and singing along while narrators provide commentary. Yes, it has brief live appearances from Frozen characters, but this is not a full-scale musical retelling of the film as guests might expect from the precedence set by other shows throughout the park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That being said, the premise on paper sounds a lot more boring than the captivating presentation that ensues in person. The sing-along aspect is fun. The narrators are hilarious. The informal nature of the proceedings help us relax a bit; we needn't be on our best behavior as with most \"shows.\" While some may have expected or even preferred a more traditional musical or find it lazy to seemingly pop in a DVD and press play, there's still value in the uniqueness of what happens here if you're willing to let yourself get as excited about it as the narrators are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In California, this show replaced <em>MuppetVision 3D<\/em>, but didn't last long. It closed when <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em>, a much grander production, opened in 2016. The theater where the sing-along was held was a preview center for new Disney films for a few years. Today, it presents <em>Mickey's PhilharMagic<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Frozen-Holiday-Wish.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Holiday-Wish-Magic-Kingdom\" class=\"wp-image-21933\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>4) <em>A Frozen Holiday Wish<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2014-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember when I said <em>Frozen<\/em> sometimes displaced things? Yeeeaaaahhh. Buckle up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beginning in 2007, Disney adorned Cinderella Castle each Christmas season with gorgeous icicle lights. Photos don't do them justice. They're breathtaking. Every night, the lights would magically turn on for the evening with the help of Cinderella and her Fairy Godmother. This is, after all, Cinderella's home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon <em>Frozen<\/em>'s success, the writing was on the wall. This was low-hanging fruit. This was handed to Disney on a silver platter in a way that they'd be silly to neglect. Elsa had icy powers. This was the resort's iconic structure that turned to ice every Christmas season. It made sense for Elsa to now be included in the annual event. The way in which she was included, though, could have been handled a bit differently, in my opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Turns out, Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf are visiting this kingdom for the holidays. (They sure do visit neighboring kingdoms often, huh?) They remark about how beautiful the decorations are everywhere, but notice that the castle is missing decor. \"Elsa!\" Anna exclaims. \"Wouldn't it be great if you used your frozen fractiley powers to cover the castle in ice and snow?!\" Elsa replies, \"Anna, I'd love to, but I can't. This isn't our home. We're just visiting and we have to be respectful to the people who live here.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That seems like a perfect cue for the person who DOES live here, right? Instead of Cinderella appearing and giving her blessing, though, Anna literally has the guests peer pressure Elsa into making graffiti on the castle. Ok, ok, so maybe this wasn't meant to be analyzed with such scrutiny, but I can't shake that this could've gone a little different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite this nitpicking, the brief ceremony is a delight. It peppers in clever phrases from <em>Frozen<\/em>'s script throughout its dialogue and includes pleasant orchestral versions of <em>Frozen<\/em> songs and Christmas tunes alike in what is basically an eight minutes of stalled anticipation for the lights to follow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The spectacle itself is still the same as it's always been since 2007. The lights are no different, and are beautiful as ever. Simply the \"turning on\" ceremony each night is now void of Cinderella. Will Elsa be convicted of trespassing charges this year?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Live-Hyperion.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Live-Hyperion\" class=\"wp-image-54651\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>3) <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em><br>Disney California Adventure (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If <em>A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/em> at Disney's Hollywood Studios swerves expectations in an underwhelming (yet endearingly quirky) way, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> at Disney California Adventure swerves expectations in an overwhelming way. It's practically a mini Broadway musical, clocking in at 55 minutes and with the costuming and production value of anything you'd hope to find in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, in the performance I attended, most of the jokes were met with minimal laughter. It would stand to reason that as many times audiences in the room have seen <em>Frozen<\/em> over and over, hearing the same jokes simply aren't funny anymore. However, this could've just been the show I was at and not a common issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though it's nearly flawless, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> holds a sour reputation among some for replacing the phenomenal <em>Aladdin \u2014<\/em> <em>A Musical Spectacular<\/em>, which had performed in this space since 2003 and <strong>did<\/strong> vary up its script with different material and even topical jokes for Genie based on current events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tokyo-Disneyland-Frozen-Fantasy.png\" alt=\"Anna-Elsa-Frozen-Fantasy-Tokyo-Disneyland\" class=\"wp-image-54652\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>2) <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy<\/em><\/strong><br><strong>Tokyo Disneyland (2015-2018<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Imagine <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> from Disney's Hollywood Studios on steroids. Or, perhaps more realistically, with a much bigger budget. That's what <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy <\/em>was at Tokyo Disneyland. This was a seasonal Frozen festival on a grand scale that honestly put Hollywood Studios to shame. With a stronger parade, more park-wide activities, and more impressive fireworks, this celebration lasted four years, with its final season ending last year in 2018. Its big claim to fame? This was the only place in any Disney park to date where you could see Prince Hans.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Ever-After.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Ever-After-Epcot\" class=\"wp-image-54653\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>1.) <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Out this entire list, this is the only item to be a ride. Everything else is some form of live entertainment. Because of the investment and longevity that comes with building a permanent ride as well as the trajectory of influence this particular ride set into motion, it makes the top of our countdown as #1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frozen Ever After is a boat ride taking place after the events of <em>Frozen<\/em>. It's \"winter in summer\" day, celebrating the day on the calendar that Anna saved Elsa with an act of true love. To commemorate, we're invited to take a boat tour of Arendelle. Along the way, we see plenty of familiar faces and even hear a few familiar tunes. This structure is unique from most classic Disney rides of this same style in that <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> doesn't simply retell the events from <em>Frozen<\/em>, though the nature of it is so similar that if you're not paying close attention, you might think it does that anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With stellar Audio-Animatronics figures and even a bit of thrill, <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> is one of Epcot's best attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The context surrounding the ride is particularly curious, though. It replaced <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, a longstanding ride celebrating Norwegian culture. Despite being located within the Norway pavilion and even using the same track layout as <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, <em>Frozen Ever After <\/em>doesn't even try to work in Norwegian heritage into its narrative. At first, this seemed to be a departure of form for Epcot. Now that we're a few years after its opening and we know what Disney's building next, though, the ride was actually a taste of a new era for Epcot, one less occupied with education and more focused on characters. Future attractions will bring <em>Ratatouille<\/em> to the France pavilion and <em>Mary Poppins<\/em> to the United Kingdom pavilion. Elsewhere in the park, a <em>Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em> roller coaster will open (though that, at least, has been promised to include educational value somewhere within it). Whether this new direction for Epcot is exciting or apocalyptic depends on who you ask, but the park is for certain in the middle of a transformation toward a new version of itself, and one might point the beginning of that transformation back to Frozen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen-1024x401.png\" alt=\"Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54654\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It should come as no surprise that, now being an established staple of the Disney fold, Frozen is continuing to be used, perhaps now even more than ever. Following Epcot's lead, multiple permanent attractions are currently in development for Disney theme parks around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<p>When <em>Frozen<\/em> became a massive success upon its 2013 release, it came as no surprise that Disney began infusing the story into its theme parks. Over the past six years, there have been some fascinating adaptations of the franchise. From amazing to controversial<em>, Frozen<\/em> has seemingly done it all within Disney's parks, both stateside and internationally. Here are the top 10* <em>Frozen<\/em> theme park attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This list doesn't as much rank from worst to best in terms of quality, but rather counts down based on influence to the park in which the attraction resides or impact on the overall <em>Frozen<\/em> legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Fullscreen-capture-7252013-11713-PM.bmp-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"World-of-Color-Winter-Dreams-at-Disney-California-Adventure-starring-Olaf-from-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-6349\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>10) <em>World of Color: Winter Dreams<\/em><br>Disney California Adventure (2013-2015<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>World of Color is a nighttime water spectacular that first debuted in 2010. The show is often given seasonal makeovers, and 2013 saw the debut of a holiday-themed show, <em>Winter Dreams<\/em>, hosted by none other than Olaf. For 2013, this was pretty big news. This show premiered before <em>Frozen<\/em> released in theaters, so the show gave guests a first look into Olaf's personality. More importantly, though, it offered a glimpse at \"Let It Go,\" notorious even before it was widely heard. <em>Winter Dreams<\/em> only lasted three years, replaced by <em>World of Color: Season of Light<\/em> for the 2016 season moving forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/Anna-Elsa-Hollywood-Studios.jpg\" alt=\"Anna-Elsa-Hollywood-Studios\" class=\"wp-image-16153\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>9) <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em><br>Disney's Hollywood Studios (2014-2015<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>People were Frozen crazy in the year following the film's initial release. Any appearance of Anna and Elsa within the theme parks was the equivalent of a celebrity sighting, and families went nuts. While plans were put into development for a permanent <em>Frozen<\/em> ride, to satisfy demand in the meantime Disney instated <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For two summers, Disney's Hollywood Studios became a celebration of all things <em>Frozen<\/em>. This included a processional through the park, a small show in which Olaf basked in his summertime glory, fireworks set to music from the film, and a sing-along stage show that would inadvertently become a permanent offering for the park (more on that later). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In reflection, perhaps the most intriguing aspect of <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> was the way it set up its narrative. With any resort, there wouldn't need to be any \"story\" or \"justification\" for what was essentially a festival celebrating a movie. This being Disney, though, there actually was a set-up for all of this. In a traveling tour of various kingdoms, Anna and Elsa visit \"Hollywoodland\" for the summer to greet its citizens and enjoy the season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The 2015 version of <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> was part of a larger \"Coolest Summer Ever\" campaign across all of Walt Disney World, kicked off by a 24-hour special event at Magic Kingdom hosted by Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Festival-of-Fantasy.jpg\" alt=\"Festival-of-Fantasy-Parade-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54647\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>8) <em>Festival of Fantasy Parade<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2014-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It's true that Frozen is one of many films highlighted in Magic Kingdom's daily Festival of Fantasy Parade. The production is hardly exclusive to Arendellians, also featuring practically Disney's whole library of animated classics, from <em>Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs<\/em> to <em>Brave<\/em>. But it's <em>Frozen<\/em>'s influence within the parade that places it on this list. If we're talking about impact and influence, which we are, this is a prime example of <em>Frozen<\/em> beginning to misplace fellow Disney brethren, for better or for worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Allow me to explain. When <em>Festival of Fantasy<\/em> debuted in spring 2014, it was slated to feature Princess Aurora on a garden float along with other Disney princesses. The soundtrack for that float even included \"Once Upon a Dream\" in its medley of princess songs. Then <em>Frozen<\/em> happened. People wanted to see Anna and Elsa when they came to Disney World, and would surely expect to see them in a new parade. But there wasn't enough time to include an entire <em>Frozen<\/em> float into the parade. It would have to be part of an existing unit. It would have to replace something already planned. Who got the boot? Princess Aurora. Her portion of the princess float was reconstructed to resemble Elsa's icy palace, and Anna and Elsa proudly rode upon it when the parade debuted. In an interesting twist, though, there wasn't enough time to record a new version of the parade's soundtrack before it debuted. So on opening day, the float still played \"Once Upon a Dream\" despite Aurora being completely absent. It wasn't until a few months later than the float would abridge its medley to include \"For the First Time In Forever\" and \"Let It Go.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This was the first big instance of Frozen forcing other Disney properties out of the way. As we'll see later on, it wouldn't be the last.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Royal-Sommerhus.jpg\" alt=\"Epcot-Royal-Sommerhus\" class=\"wp-image-54648\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>7) <em>Royal Sommerhus<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We've established that Disney park guests went gaga when Anna and Elsa showed up anywhere. So of course, the ultimate souvenir from a Disney trip at the peak of <em>Frozen<\/em> pandemonium was a family photo with the famous sisters. The demand, though, became overwhelming. At the time of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release, Anna and Elsa were crammed into a small room in Epcot's Norway pavilion (unknowingly a prophecy of things later to come). Lines became too long for even Disney to properly manage at this location, so the sisters were moved to Magic Kingdom's <em>Princess Fairytale Hall<\/em>, a spot that has much more capacity to hold large volumes of waiting guests and can get them through the line quicker thanks to some Disney magic behind the scenes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon the opening of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> (don't worry, we'll get to it) at Epcot in 2016, <em>Royal Sommerhus<\/em> opened along with it as the permanent meet & greet location for Anna and Elsa. While essentially the attraction exists for the sole purpose of being a photo-op with Anna and Elsa, it does slightly build upon the world of Frozen in a new way that no movie shows us. This, as it's presented to us, is a summer home that Anna and Elsa's parents would take them for family visits. While in line, we even see remnants of the sisters' childhoods. It remains the forever home that Walt Disney World guests know they can always find Arendelle royalty all day long, every day, eliminating a wild goose chase to track down a photo as is the case with some characters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Mickey-Friendship-Faire.jpeg\" alt=\"Mickeys-Royal-Friendship-Faire\" class=\"wp-image-54649\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>6) <em>Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This stage show in front of Cinderella Castle incidentally celebrates, in chronological order, the peak films of the Disney Revival: <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), and <em>Frozen<\/em> (2013). In context of our <em>Frozen <\/em>countdown, the most fascinating quality that Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire offers is the interactions of Mickey and the gang with the royalty of the Disney animated films. Unlike, say, Cinderella or Peter Pan, who Mickey has seen often and seems to know quite well, this show presents each character as the first time they've ever been part of a Disney spectacle like this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This means that we literally get to see Anna, Elsa, and Olaf introduce themselves to Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Think about the magnitude of that sentence. These are generations of Disney coming together before our eyes, tangibly greeting one another for the very first time. As a fan, this is an interesting opportunity and not one that I think many expected to be part of this show's proceedings when it opened in 2016. Also of note is that Minnie has heard of Anna and Elsa. In fact, she's a fangirl. Mickey's set up the sisters' arrival as a surprise to Minnie, and the mouse, like many in the audience, goes crazy. \"From the moment I heard your story, I admired you both so much.\" So did we.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/First-Time-In-Forever.jpg\" alt=\"First-Time-In-Forever-Frozen-Sing-Along-Celebration\" class=\"wp-image-54650\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>5) <\/strong><em><strong>For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/strong><\/em><strong><br>Disney's Hollywood Studios (2014-present)<br>Disney California Adventure (2015-2016<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This show is a carry-over from the temporary <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> (see above) that guests enjoyed so much at Disney's Hollywood Studios that Disney decided to make it permanent. That being said, it has the feel of something that didn't know it would be around for a long time. I'm not sure what guests expect upon entering For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration. Despite the words \"sing-along\" being in the title, I don't think many people expect the show to actually be as simple as watching clips from Frozen on a screen and singing along while narrators provide commentary. Yes, it has brief live appearances from Frozen characters, but this is not a full-scale musical retelling of the film as guests might expect from the precedence set by other shows throughout the park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That being said, the premise on paper sounds a lot more boring than the captivating presentation that ensues in person. The sing-along aspect is fun. The narrators are hilarious. The informal nature of the proceedings help us relax a bit; we needn't be on our best behavior as with most \"shows.\" While some may have expected or even preferred a more traditional musical or find it lazy to seemingly pop in a DVD and press play, there's still value in the uniqueness of what happens here if you're willing to let yourself get as excited about it as the narrators are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In California, this show replaced <em>MuppetVision 3D<\/em>, but didn't last long. It closed when <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em>, a much grander production, opened in 2016. The theater where the sing-along was held was a preview center for new Disney films for a few years. Today, it presents <em>Mickey's PhilharMagic<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Frozen-Holiday-Wish.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Holiday-Wish-Magic-Kingdom\" class=\"wp-image-21933\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>4) <em>A Frozen Holiday Wish<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2014-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember when I said <em>Frozen<\/em> sometimes displaced things? Yeeeaaaahhh. Buckle up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beginning in 2007, Disney adorned Cinderella Castle each Christmas season with gorgeous icicle lights. Photos don't do them justice. They're breathtaking. Every night, the lights would magically turn on for the evening with the help of Cinderella and her Fairy Godmother. This is, after all, Cinderella's home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon <em>Frozen<\/em>'s success, the writing was on the wall. This was low-hanging fruit. This was handed to Disney on a silver platter in a way that they'd be silly to neglect. Elsa had icy powers. This was the resort's iconic structure that turned to ice every Christmas season. It made sense for Elsa to now be included in the annual event. The way in which she was included, though, could have been handled a bit differently, in my opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Turns out, Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf are visiting this kingdom for the holidays. (They sure do visit neighboring kingdoms often, huh?) They remark about how beautiful the decorations are everywhere, but notice that the castle is missing decor. \"Elsa!\" Anna exclaims. \"Wouldn't it be great if you used your frozen fractiley powers to cover the castle in ice and snow?!\" Elsa replies, \"Anna, I'd love to, but I can't. This isn't our home. We're just visiting and we have to be respectful to the people who live here.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That seems like a perfect cue for the person who DOES live here, right? Instead of Cinderella appearing and giving her blessing, though, Anna literally has the guests peer pressure Elsa into making graffiti on the castle. Ok, ok, so maybe this wasn't meant to be analyzed with such scrutiny, but I can't shake that this could've gone a little different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite this nitpicking, the brief ceremony is a delight. It peppers in clever phrases from <em>Frozen<\/em>'s script throughout its dialogue and includes pleasant orchestral versions of <em>Frozen<\/em> songs and Christmas tunes alike in what is basically an eight minutes of stalled anticipation for the lights to follow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The spectacle itself is still the same as it's always been since 2007. The lights are no different, and are beautiful as ever. Simply the \"turning on\" ceremony each night is now void of Cinderella. Will Elsa be convicted of trespassing charges this year?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Live-Hyperion.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Live-Hyperion\" class=\"wp-image-54651\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>3) <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em><br>Disney California Adventure (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If <em>A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/em> at Disney's Hollywood Studios swerves expectations in an underwhelming (yet endearingly quirky) way, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> at Disney California Adventure swerves expectations in an overwhelming way. It's practically a mini Broadway musical, clocking in at 55 minutes and with the costuming and production value of anything you'd hope to find in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, in the performance I attended, most of the jokes were met with minimal laughter. It would stand to reason that as many times audiences in the room have seen <em>Frozen<\/em> over and over, hearing the same jokes simply aren't funny anymore. However, this could've just been the show I was at and not a common issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though it's nearly flawless, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> holds a sour reputation among some for replacing the phenomenal <em>Aladdin \u2014<\/em> <em>A Musical Spectacular<\/em>, which had performed in this space since 2003 and <strong>did<\/strong> vary up its script with different material and even topical jokes for Genie based on current events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tokyo-Disneyland-Frozen-Fantasy.png\" alt=\"Anna-Elsa-Frozen-Fantasy-Tokyo-Disneyland\" class=\"wp-image-54652\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>2) <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy<\/em><\/strong><br><strong>Tokyo Disneyland (2015-2018<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Imagine <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> from Disney's Hollywood Studios on steroids. Or, perhaps more realistically, with a much bigger budget. That's what <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy <\/em>was at Tokyo Disneyland. This was a seasonal Frozen festival on a grand scale that honestly put Hollywood Studios to shame. With a stronger parade, more park-wide activities, and more impressive fireworks, this celebration lasted four years, with its final season ending last year in 2018. Its big claim to fame? This was the only place in any Disney park to date where you could see Prince Hans.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Ever-After.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Ever-After-Epcot\" class=\"wp-image-54653\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>1.) <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Out this entire list, this is the only item to be a ride. Everything else is some form of live entertainment. Because of the investment and longevity that comes with building a permanent ride as well as the trajectory of influence this particular ride set into motion, it makes the top of our countdown as #1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frozen Ever After is a boat ride taking place after the events of <em>Frozen<\/em>. It's \"winter in summer\" day, celebrating the day on the calendar that Anna saved Elsa with an act of true love. To commemorate, we're invited to take a boat tour of Arendelle. Along the way, we see plenty of familiar faces and even hear a few familiar tunes. This structure is unique from most classic Disney rides of this same style in that <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> doesn't simply retell the events from <em>Frozen<\/em>, though the nature of it is so similar that if you're not paying close attention, you might think it does that anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With stellar Audio-Animatronics figures and even a bit of thrill, <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> is one of Epcot's best attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The context surrounding the ride is particularly curious, though. It replaced <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, a longstanding ride celebrating Norwegian culture. Despite being located within the Norway pavilion and even using the same track layout as <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, <em>Frozen Ever After <\/em>doesn't even try to work in Norwegian heritage into its narrative. At first, this seemed to be a departure of form for Epcot. Now that we're a few years after its opening and we know what Disney's building next, though, the ride was actually a taste of a new era for Epcot, one less occupied with education and more focused on characters. Future attractions will bring <em>Ratatouille<\/em> to the France pavilion and <em>Mary Poppins<\/em> to the United Kingdom pavilion. Elsewhere in the park, a <em>Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em> roller coaster will open (though that, at least, has been promised to include educational value somewhere within it). Whether this new direction for Epcot is exciting or apocalyptic depends on who you ask, but the park is for certain in the middle of a transformation toward a new version of itself, and one might point the beginning of that transformation back to Frozen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen-1024x401.png\" alt=\"Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54654\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It should come as no surprise that, now being an established staple of the Disney fold, Frozen is continuing to be used, perhaps now even more than ever. Following Epcot's lead, multiple permanent attractions are currently in development for Disney theme parks around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. His entire purpose shifts. Andy's mom will always \"be there\" for Andy, even if she's not physically in the same space as him. And therefore, so can Woody. He doesn't have to go to college with Andy to be there for Andy. This is what drives Woody to switch boxes and go to Bonnie's with the rest of the toys. This life-changing choice is gloriously affirmed for Woody in a way he never thought possible: hearing it directly from Andy himself. As Andy gives Woody to Bonnie, he shares, \"Woody has been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll <em>be there<\/em> for you, no matter what.\" Andy moves on. And therefore, so can Woody.\n\nOr, so we think. From that point forward, Woody's purpose changes, as he states to Forky in <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: his job is to \"be there for Bonnie.\" However, his change of ownership is still something Woody is getting used to. He hasn't quite moved on from Andy, even slipping in his explanation to Forky by using Andy's name first before correcting himself. Even though Woody made a huge decision, he's having a hard time accepting the reality of change around him. This is understandable and even expected, given the strong connection Andy and Woody had.\n\nWoody was there for Andy. Now it's his job to be there for Bonnie. But does that make sense? This is the question Woody berates himself for even thinking. It's all but blasphemy to his worldview to wonder if his loyalty to his kid is anything less than permanent. We'll explore how he confronts that internal dialogue a bit later.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lost-Toy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-woody-buzz-Lost-Toy-dinaco\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Lost Toy\"<\/h2>\nThe other consistent, repeated dialogue that gives us a lot of insight toward Woody's arc is the idea of being a \"lost toy.\" Beginning in\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> and continuing forward, this is the language used to describe a toy misplaced by their owner, and thus doomed to an eternity of unfulfilled purpose, of empty desire. As Andy's mom drives away from the gas station and Woody and Buzz are left at the pump, Woody cries in despair, \"I'm lost! Oh, I'm a lost toy!\" This is his greatest fear. This is his nightmare realized.\n\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, though, this concept is turned on its head. Bo Peep shows Woody a very different perspective of the idea of a lost toy. For her, being a lost toy is not a woeful product of circumstance, it's a choice she's made \u2014 and that she's proud of.\n\nBo Peep learned that her purpose wasn't as narrow of a concept as she once believed. As \"The Nerdwriter\" observed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AcZ2OY5-TeM\">a recent YouTube video<\/a>, even\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>'s cinematography tries to send us messages about Woody's worldview in contrast to Bo's newfound perspective. In back-to-back cuts within the same scene, an angle focusing on Bo Peep has a bokeh, blurred background, while the same moment angled toward Woody has a stark, in-focus background, symbolizing her openness to organic decisions and embracing change as opposed to his more plan-oriented, rigid mindset at that point in the story.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-54608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Road.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-woody-forky-walking-on-road\" width=\"960\" height=\"402\" \/>\n\nThat's not to say that Woody is completely static in the first three films. In many ways, he's changed quite a lot. He's grown. For starters, in\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>he does everything in his power to be his kid's favorite toy at all costs, even if it means throwing a new favorite toy out of a window. In <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, he does everything to protect his kid's new favorite toy, even if it's not him and even if it means throwing <em>himself<\/em> out of a window. Woody has learned to be selfless. He doesn't get it right all the time, but his primary motivation is meeting the needs of others rather than himself. That will be key later.\n\nIn <em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody feels a pull (a call, some might even say) toward something different, but because this contradicts so fundamentally with everything he's believed for his entire life, he has difficulty 1.) acknowledging that the thought is something he even has, and 2.) moving forward toward taking action on it.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-room-1024x455.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-toys-in-bonnie's-room\" width=\"1024\" height=\"455\" \/>\n<h2>Woody Leaves<\/h2>\nUltimately, Woody decides to leave Bonnie's toys \u2014 his family \u2014 to be with Bo Peep and help carnival toys get adopted by kids... In essence, to be a lost toy. What was once his greatest crisis is where he finds his fulfilled purpose. That purpose has transitioned from \"being there for Andy\" to \"being there for his kid\" to finally \"being there for all kids.\" This fluidity of his life's pursuit shows tremendous growth in Woody as an individual and as a character in a way that is instantly applicable in considering what each of us devotes our lives toward achieving.\n\nIt's easy to disqualify Woody's decision. It's understandable and even logical to at first claim it's unwise. Leaving a child to live a life of your own was villainized in <em>Toy Story 2. <\/em>Wasn't the point of that movie was Woody learned NOT to run away from his kid? Woody was pitted as unreasonable when he wanted to leave the other toys to go to college in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>. Wasn't the take-away there, as sung in the Oscar-winning end-credits song, that \"we belong together\"?\n\nThe difference in those circumstances, though, is that in both cases Woody would've been running toward an empty life by abandoning his kid. The museum in Japan. A box in Andy's dorm room. The common factor in both scenarios is an earnestness to choose the path that leads toward meeting someone else's needs vs. satisfying his own. As much as Woody might wish Bonnie needed him, she simply doesn't anymore. She's all but discarded him. Lotso hints at it toward the climax of <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> and Forky brings it to the forefront in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>: truth is in the eye of the beholder, and that means toys and trash might be interchangeable depending on which judge is making the verdict. To Bonnie, Woody has, sadly, become trash. Staying with her serves no purpose. It would be selfish in comparison to the opportunity of his other decision.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-That-Time-Forgot\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" \/>\n\nHere's where we surprisingly find immense value in a place I'd never expect it to be: the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>short films and television specials released 2011-2014. This collection of short-form content brought us some fun diversions in the moment, but ultimately didn't change anything major within the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>universe. Now, though, this extra media shows us something very important: Bonnie, once, truly loved Woody. This is fascinating.\n\nIf we pay close attention to the seasons within these mini-sequels, we notice two separate winter breaks for Bonnie. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> concluded at the beginning of a school year, there are two winters during the shorts, and\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> begins at the advent of another new school year, we can assume that the time elapsed between\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>3\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Toy Story <\/em><em>4<\/em> is at least two years, at a minimum. This puts some longevity on what, to a viewer watching just the feature films consecutively, might seem to be hardly any passage of time.\n\nWhat's more, if the viewer makes the jump from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> immediately into\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, Woody isn't really shown as being loved by Bonnie. Sure, we get the sequence when she inadvertently takes him home from Sunnyside for playtime in <em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, but that was before we knew he would be her toy at the end. Yes, she plays with him briefly in the opening montage of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>, but quickly in the next scene she chooses to leave him in her closet.\n\nBut in the shorts and TV specials, we see her treating him as equal as any other toy. She brings him when she goes over to friends' houses. She takes him on car trips. She loves him. It's this love that's absent if we skip quickly from <em>Toy Story 3<\/em> to\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Bonnie completely devalued what Andy told her when he gave her Woody. If we don't see that Bonnie once loved Woody, we think Woody's torn decision to go with Bo or stay with Bonnie is based only on a misguided concept of loyalty rather than any substantial relationship.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Characters-1024x429.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Characters-promo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"429\" \/>\n\nSo Woody leaves. Finally, after years of processing who he is, why he's here, and where he belongs in this world, he acknowledges and accepts something he's never been able to before: that the answers to those questions change as time passes. There isn't one concrete definition for who a person is. Life is more fluid than that. And having made his decision and said goodbye to the toys who have been his family for decades, Woody moves on. As Bonnie's family's RV pulls away and Buzz and Woody share one last look, a familiar riff of music inhabits Randy Newman's score \u2014 the exact same cue that played when Woody appeared onscreen for the very first time in 1995. It seems this is a bookend, after all.","post_title":"[OPINION] Woody \u2014 The Character Arc of Pixar's Most Iconic Hero","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"opinion-woody-the-character-arc-of-pixars-most-iconic-hero","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-31 14:19:33","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-31 21:19:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53532","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54529,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-21 14:37:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-21 21:37:43","post_content":"It's been no secret, even from the first teaser last winter, that <strong><em>Frozen 2<\/em> <\/strong>will be epic. If nothing else, the Roman numerals in all the marketing let us know this is going to be a classy affair.\n\nFour new posters released from Disney today continue to highlight the adventurous scope and impressive scale of the sequel, hinting at perhaps a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor.\n\nOne thing is for sure: WE. CAN'T. WAIT.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenElsa-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenAnna-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenKristoff-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf.jpeg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FrozenOlaf-703x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"816\"><\/a>\n\nThere's just one month left until <em>Frozen 2 <\/em>debuts in theaters November 22, 2019, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Which of these new posters is your favorite?<\/h2>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"'Frozen 2' Character Posters Foreshadow Epic Scale","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozen-2-character-posters-foreshadow-epic-scale","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:52:40","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:52:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53826","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54520,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-10 19:17:53","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-11 02:17:53","post_content":"\"In times of old, the world was full of wonder and magic, but times change.\"\n\nThese words herald the arrival of Pixar's newest film,\u00a0<strong><em>Onward<\/em><\/strong>, in theaters March 6th, 2020, from director Dan Scanlon (<em>Monsters University<\/em>). The movie stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, living in an enchanted realm like the kind we'd typically see in a medieval story but brought forward into the present day. Check out the full trailer below!\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn5QmllRCn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThis has the makings of a signature Pixar narrative. There's intrigue in the thorough world-building of bringing a mythological aesthetic into a modern time, but it appears (smartly) that this hook is a function rather than a driver. The story still has legs... literally [rimshot]. But for real, the plot seems to have serious depth to it as Pratt and Holland's characters venture on their quest to revive their deceased father, if only for a day.\n\nThe brotherly contrast of personalities, the shared longing for something deeply personal, the mystery of who their father really was, the various stops and scenarios that seem to wander upon their path along the way... It has the tropes of a classic road trip film, and with Pixar at the wheel, we should be in for an exciting ride (and we're probably going to cry somewhere).\n\nDisney also released a reaction video of Pratt and Holland viewing the trailer for the first time.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMT7QhB45yA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nThe movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Pratt and Holland's mother, and Octavia Spencer who Pratt mentions being \"The Manacore\" (spelling might be off here), who seems to be a tavern owner.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">What was your favorite moment from the <em>Onward<\/em> trailer?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Trailer Premiereth for Pixar's 'Onward' Starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trailer-premiereth-for-pixars-onward-starring-chris-pratt-and-tom-holland","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54517,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-07 20:01:55","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-08 03:01:55","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"852\"><\/a>\n\nI'm a Bob Iger stan. Or, at least, I'm a Bob Iger Twitter stan.\n\nI can't help it. Getting push notifications for his tweets is like Christmas morning each time he takes to the Internet. Posts typically arrive with Iger giddy about a new project, sometimes becoming confused with the subtleties of Twitter. One time he posted about Lucasfilm head Kathy Kennedy and mistakenly tagged a Kennedy parody account. This year on the anniversary of his being named Disney CEO, he tweeted about himself in the third person. Sometimes \u2013\u2013 these are my personal favorite \u2013\u2013 he'll chime in on Disney rumors or criticism with sarcasm, such as when he rebuked <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> naysayers by claiming Disney would build \"a <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> land with 50 <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> attractions, plus <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> cruise ships, hotels, and parades.\" HE. IS. WORTH. THE. FOLLOW. GO. FOLLOW. HIM.\n\nAnyway, these remarks (both in tone and in typo errors) feel out of place for the otherwise professional, businesslike stance Iger takes nearly everywhere else he publicly communicates. For the leader of a major corporation, Iger's tweets humanize him and remind us that he's a real person with, apparently, quite an offbeat personality that doesn't often come across in interviews. The same revelatory experience is found in Iger's new book, <em>The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. <\/em>Curiously published from Random House rather than Disney Editions, the book pairs legends from his Disney tenure with practical leadership advice. This goes all the way back to 1974, when Iger began his first job with ABC. Many times throughout the book, Iger writes directly to the reader with wisdom relating not just to the business world, but to professional relationships, work\/life balance, friendships in the workplace, and other topics. The purpose is clearly to impart wisdom from major career moments rather than be a biography, and the extrapolation of proverbial business lessons is a large part of the narrative here.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger.jpg\" alt=\"Steve-Jobs-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\"><\/a>\n\nThe book reads as surprisingly candid, with Iger not beating around the bush at any moment. He discusses with minimal secrecy the security measures of a potential Walt Disney World terrorist attack. He talks at length about the muddled reputation Roy E. Disney carried, marred by a rosy public-facing image the company projected. He openly shares the exit of former CEO Michael Eisner, a tale Iger claims was partially falsely reported in the widespread book <em>Disney War<\/em>. He's very direct in discussing the flaws of his present and prior colleagues and supervisors, again pointing those attributes back to a value the person did or didn't exemplify in an attempt to illustrate a point to the reader.\n\nAt the same time, though, he's always fair (or, at least, appears to be, having no way to verify without knowing the subjects personally). Just as directly as he calls out weaknesses, he acknowledges his own mistakes too, and he equally takes time to build upon others' strengths. His extensive sharing about the friendship he shared with Steve Jobs is particularly touching and revelatory. It's within this realm that the true merit of Iger's book is found, at least for the Disney fan: Here we find stories we've never heard this side of before (deleted scenes, if you will), events that we've only previously known through the lens of facts-only news articles or misconstrued rumors. Here, from the direct source, we have missing moments from Disney history suddenly and delightfully revealed in incredible detail.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Bob-Iger-George-Lucas.jpg\" alt=\"George-Lucas-Bob-Iger\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\"><\/a>\n\nDisney usually waits a while to share its history. Though there's the usual fare of behind-the-scenes footage with each new home video release, these still feel relatively sugar-coated because the product is still new on the market. It's not until a project establishes itself as a time-tested classic (\/until there's no danger of it losing money) that we might hear the <em>real<\/em> story of what went down \u2013\u2013 the hurdles, the obstacles, the production challenges, the difficult conversations, the creative disagreements. It wasn't until the Platinum Edition DVD collection began in 2001 that we really heard Disney share the full scope of production stories from its Renaissance-era films of the '90s. It's 2019 and we're just getting scraps of tales from the making of 2009's <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> as its tenth-anniversary festivities set in motion. Likewise, Bob Iger has been CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005, and while we know the basics of what he's accomplished, we haven't really heard the full extent of these important moments in Disney history... (dramatic music) until now.\n\nWith Iger's reign largely anchoring on acquisitions of existing brands into the Disney fold, each of these purchases takes a significant portion of the book, beginning with Pixar and continuing with Marvel and Lucasfilm, and even touching on Fox at the end. We find out what Steve Jobs told Iger just 30 minutes before the Pixar purchase was announced that could have reversed the deal. We hear what convinced Marvel's prior owner to consider selling. We discover what happened behind the scenes with George Lucas during the production of <em>The Force Awakens<\/em>. Iger's business acumen throughout keeps this prose from being overly gossipy \u2013\u2013 it always has a point, and (again, seemingly) always shares a fair perspective without being skewed or opinionated.\n\nFor a Disney fan, this reads as a soap opera with some sage advice sprinkled throughout. For those seeking a leadership-oriented book, this reads as an excellent delve into the mind of one of the world's most prominent leaders, offering helpful anecdotes guiding through his intricate thought processes. The \"life lessons\" aspect of the book might be a bit tangential at times, but this is forgiven by Iger's obvious passion for his career and his clear intent to make this book worthwhile for those who read it. Like his Twitter profile sometimes lets slip, Bob Iger loves what he does. And he equally loves sharing it. We have no choice but to stan.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company\/dp\/0399592091\">Purchase<\/a>","post_title":"[BOOK REVIEW] 'Ride of a Lifetime' is Disney CEO Bob Iger's Iconic Twitter Novelized","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"book-review-ride-of-a-lifetime-is-disney-ceo-bob-igers-iconic-twitter-novelized","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-28 17:30:57","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:30:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53709","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54423,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-09-23 14:53:43","post_date_gmt":"2019-09-23 21:53:43","post_content":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-167_14_177-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Anna-Elsa\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n\nWith official first day of fall \u2013\u2013 and now less than two months away from the release of Frozen 2 \u2013\u2013 Disney dropped a new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel.\n\nCheck it out!\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwzLiQZDw2I\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n\nWow! ...Is everyone here? Are you back? From the lap you just ran around whatever building you're in because of how hype that trailer made you?\n\nThere's, uh, kind of a lot to talk about here. Of note is the slip that Elsa's powers allow her to enter an enchanted land that was long thought impenetrable.\n\nWe have a lot of questions about some of the new faces and settings the trailer included. Thankfully, Disney broke it down further by providing character synopses of some of the personalities we'll meet when the film debuts on November 22, some completely new and others \u2013\u2013 namely Anna and Elsa's parents \u2013\u2013 characters who we may have met in <em>Frozen<\/em>, but will be more fully built out in <em>Frozen 2<\/em>.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-90_26_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-King-Agnaar\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>KING AGNARR \u2013 The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa\u2019s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters\u2019 wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213.3_12.10_1.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Honeymaren-Ryder-Yelana\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic<b> <\/b>Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their  environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren. <\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n \t<li><em>RYDER  - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces<b> <\/b>life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs<b> <\/b>to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.<\/em><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/FROZEN_2-ONLINE-USE-213_62_56.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-2-Bruni\" width=\"560\" height=\"235\"><\/a>\n<ul>\n \t<li><em>BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nI don't know about you, but I already stan Bruni.\n\nThis newest trailer comes following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/13\/the-first-teaser-trailer-for-frozen-2-is-here\/\">teaser trailer<\/a> in February and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinion-frozen-2-trailer\/\">first official trailer<\/a> in June.\n\nAt the time of the previous trailer's release, Disney said the water-horse-creature-thing we see Elsa riding (EPICALLY) is named Nokk, \u201ca mythical water spirit that takes the form of a horse \u2014 who uses the power of the ocean to guard the secrets of the forest.\u201d\n\nTo hype you for all things <em>Frozen 2<\/em>, make sure to join us here at Rotoscopers for Frozember, a tradition we first began in 2013 during which we'll share a new <em>Frozen<\/em>-themed post every day during the month of November.\n<h2>Thoughts on the new characters? Who are you most excited to meet?<\/h2>","post_title":"New 'Frozen 2' Trailer Arrives Just in Time to Welcome Autumn","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-frozen-2-trailer-arrives-just-in-time-to-welcome-autumn","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-09-30 17:55:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-01 00:55:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53603","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_3o3","class":"jnews_block_5"};</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-100774e elementor-widget elementor-widget-jnews_archive_pagination_elementor" data-id="100774e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="jnews_archive_pagination_elementor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="jeg_navigation jeg_pagination jeg_col_3o3 jnews_module_54838_4_67fb32027d13b jeg_pagenav_1 jeg_aligncenter no_pageinfo"> <span class="page_info">Page 2 of 32</span> <a class="page_nav prev" data-id="1" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/"><span class="navtext">Previous</span></a> <a class='page_number' data-id='1' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/'>1</a> <span class='page_number active'>2</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='3' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/'>3</a> <span class="page_number dots">…</span> <a class='page_number' data-id='32' href='https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/32/'>32</a> <a class="page_nav next" data-id="3" href="https://www.rotoscopers.com/author/blake-taylor/page/3/"><span class="navtext">Next</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ca773c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer" data-id="ca773c7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="spacer.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-spacer"> <div class="elementor-spacer-inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> \n<p><strong>It\u2019s Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\">Frozen 2<\/a><\/em>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When <em>Frozen<\/em> became a massive success upon its 2013 release, it came as no surprise that Disney began infusing the story into its theme parks. Over the past six years, there have been some fascinating adaptations of the franchise. From amazing to controversial<em>, Frozen<\/em> has seemingly done it all within Disney's parks, both stateside and internationally. Here are the top 10* <em>Frozen<\/em> theme park attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This list doesn't as much rank from worst to best in terms of quality, but rather counts down based on influence to the park in which the attraction resides or impact on the overall <em>Frozen<\/em> legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Fullscreen-capture-7252013-11713-PM.bmp-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"World-of-Color-Winter-Dreams-at-Disney-California-Adventure-starring-Olaf-from-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-6349\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>10) <em>World of Color: Winter Dreams<\/em><br>Disney California Adventure (2013-2015<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>World of Color is a nighttime water spectacular that first debuted in 2010. The show is often given seasonal makeovers, and 2013 saw the debut of a holiday-themed show, <em>Winter Dreams<\/em>, hosted by none other than Olaf. For 2013, this was pretty big news. This show premiered before <em>Frozen<\/em> released in theaters, so the show gave guests a first look into Olaf's personality. More importantly, though, it offered a glimpse at \"Let It Go,\" notorious even before it was widely heard. <em>Winter Dreams<\/em> only lasted three years, replaced by <em>World of Color: Season of Light<\/em> for the 2016 season moving forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/Anna-Elsa-Hollywood-Studios.jpg\" alt=\"Anna-Elsa-Hollywood-Studios\" class=\"wp-image-16153\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>9) <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em><br>Disney's Hollywood Studios (2014-2015<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>People were Frozen crazy in the year following the film's initial release. Any appearance of Anna and Elsa within the theme parks was the equivalent of a celebrity sighting, and families went nuts. While plans were put into development for a permanent <em>Frozen<\/em> ride, to satisfy demand in the meantime Disney instated <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For two summers, Disney's Hollywood Studios became a celebration of all things <em>Frozen<\/em>. This included a processional through the park, a small show in which Olaf basked in his summertime glory, fireworks set to music from the film, and a sing-along stage show that would inadvertently become a permanent offering for the park (more on that later). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In reflection, perhaps the most intriguing aspect of <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> was the way it set up its narrative. With any resort, there wouldn't need to be any \"story\" or \"justification\" for what was essentially a festival celebrating a movie. This being Disney, though, there actually was a set-up for all of this. In a traveling tour of various kingdoms, Anna and Elsa visit \"Hollywoodland\" for the summer to greet its citizens and enjoy the season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The 2015 version of <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> was part of a larger \"Coolest Summer Ever\" campaign across all of Walt Disney World, kicked off by a 24-hour special event at Magic Kingdom hosted by Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Festival-of-Fantasy.jpg\" alt=\"Festival-of-Fantasy-Parade-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54647\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>8) <em>Festival of Fantasy Parade<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2014-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It's true that Frozen is one of many films highlighted in Magic Kingdom's daily Festival of Fantasy Parade. The production is hardly exclusive to Arendellians, also featuring practically Disney's whole library of animated classics, from <em>Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs<\/em> to <em>Brave<\/em>. But it's <em>Frozen<\/em>'s influence within the parade that places it on this list. If we're talking about impact and influence, which we are, this is a prime example of <em>Frozen<\/em> beginning to misplace fellow Disney brethren, for better or for worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Allow me to explain. When <em>Festival of Fantasy<\/em> debuted in spring 2014, it was slated to feature Princess Aurora on a garden float along with other Disney princesses. The soundtrack for that float even included \"Once Upon a Dream\" in its medley of princess songs. Then <em>Frozen<\/em> happened. People wanted to see Anna and Elsa when they came to Disney World, and would surely expect to see them in a new parade. But there wasn't enough time to include an entire <em>Frozen<\/em> float into the parade. It would have to be part of an existing unit. It would have to replace something already planned. Who got the boot? Princess Aurora. Her portion of the princess float was reconstructed to resemble Elsa's icy palace, and Anna and Elsa proudly rode upon it when the parade debuted. In an interesting twist, though, there wasn't enough time to record a new version of the parade's soundtrack before it debuted. So on opening day, the float still played \"Once Upon a Dream\" despite Aurora being completely absent. It wasn't until a few months later than the float would abridge its medley to include \"For the First Time In Forever\" and \"Let It Go.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This was the first big instance of Frozen forcing other Disney properties out of the way. As we'll see later on, it wouldn't be the last.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Royal-Sommerhus.jpg\" alt=\"Epcot-Royal-Sommerhus\" class=\"wp-image-54648\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>7) <em>Royal Sommerhus<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We've established that Disney park guests went gaga when Anna and Elsa showed up anywhere. So of course, the ultimate souvenir from a Disney trip at the peak of <em>Frozen<\/em> pandemonium was a family photo with the famous sisters. The demand, though, became overwhelming. At the time of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release, Anna and Elsa were crammed into a small room in Epcot's Norway pavilion (unknowingly a prophecy of things later to come). Lines became too long for even Disney to properly manage at this location, so the sisters were moved to Magic Kingdom's <em>Princess Fairytale Hall<\/em>, a spot that has much more capacity to hold large volumes of waiting guests and can get them through the line quicker thanks to some Disney magic behind the scenes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon the opening of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> (don't worry, we'll get to it) at Epcot in 2016, <em>Royal Sommerhus<\/em> opened along with it as the permanent meet & greet location for Anna and Elsa. While essentially the attraction exists for the sole purpose of being a photo-op with Anna and Elsa, it does slightly build upon the world of Frozen in a new way that no movie shows us. This, as it's presented to us, is a summer home that Anna and Elsa's parents would take them for family visits. While in line, we even see remnants of the sisters' childhoods. It remains the forever home that Walt Disney World guests know they can always find Arendelle royalty all day long, every day, eliminating a wild goose chase to track down a photo as is the case with some characters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Mickey-Friendship-Faire.jpeg\" alt=\"Mickeys-Royal-Friendship-Faire\" class=\"wp-image-54649\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>6) <em>Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This stage show in front of Cinderella Castle incidentally celebrates, in chronological order, the peak films of the Disney Revival: <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), and <em>Frozen<\/em> (2013). In context of our <em>Frozen <\/em>countdown, the most fascinating quality that Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire offers is the interactions of Mickey and the gang with the royalty of the Disney animated films. Unlike, say, Cinderella or Peter Pan, who Mickey has seen often and seems to know quite well, this show presents each character as the first time they've ever been part of a Disney spectacle like this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This means that we literally get to see Anna, Elsa, and Olaf introduce themselves to Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Think about the magnitude of that sentence. These are generations of Disney coming together before our eyes, tangibly greeting one another for the very first time. As a fan, this is an interesting opportunity and not one that I think many expected to be part of this show's proceedings when it opened in 2016. Also of note is that Minnie has heard of Anna and Elsa. In fact, she's a fangirl. Mickey's set up the sisters' arrival as a surprise to Minnie, and the mouse, like many in the audience, goes crazy. \"From the moment I heard your story, I admired you both so much.\" So did we.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/First-Time-In-Forever.jpg\" alt=\"First-Time-In-Forever-Frozen-Sing-Along-Celebration\" class=\"wp-image-54650\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>5) <\/strong><em><strong>For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/strong><\/em><strong><br>Disney's Hollywood Studios (2014-present)<br>Disney California Adventure (2015-2016<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This show is a carry-over from the temporary <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> (see above) that guests enjoyed so much at Disney's Hollywood Studios that Disney decided to make it permanent. That being said, it has the feel of something that didn't know it would be around for a long time. I'm not sure what guests expect upon entering For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration. Despite the words \"sing-along\" being in the title, I don't think many people expect the show to actually be as simple as watching clips from Frozen on a screen and singing along while narrators provide commentary. Yes, it has brief live appearances from Frozen characters, but this is not a full-scale musical retelling of the film as guests might expect from the precedence set by other shows throughout the park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That being said, the premise on paper sounds a lot more boring than the captivating presentation that ensues in person. The sing-along aspect is fun. The narrators are hilarious. The informal nature of the proceedings help us relax a bit; we needn't be on our best behavior as with most \"shows.\" While some may have expected or even preferred a more traditional musical or find it lazy to seemingly pop in a DVD and press play, there's still value in the uniqueness of what happens here if you're willing to let yourself get as excited about it as the narrators are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In California, this show replaced <em>MuppetVision 3D<\/em>, but didn't last long. It closed when <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em>, a much grander production, opened in 2016. The theater where the sing-along was held was a preview center for new Disney films for a few years. Today, it presents <em>Mickey's PhilharMagic<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Frozen-Holiday-Wish.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Holiday-Wish-Magic-Kingdom\" class=\"wp-image-21933\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>4) <em>A Frozen Holiday Wish<\/em><br>Magic Kingdom (2014-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember when I said <em>Frozen<\/em> sometimes displaced things? Yeeeaaaahhh. Buckle up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beginning in 2007, Disney adorned Cinderella Castle each Christmas season with gorgeous icicle lights. Photos don't do them justice. They're breathtaking. Every night, the lights would magically turn on for the evening with the help of Cinderella and her Fairy Godmother. This is, after all, Cinderella's home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon <em>Frozen<\/em>'s success, the writing was on the wall. This was low-hanging fruit. This was handed to Disney on a silver platter in a way that they'd be silly to neglect. Elsa had icy powers. This was the resort's iconic structure that turned to ice every Christmas season. It made sense for Elsa to now be included in the annual event. The way in which she was included, though, could have been handled a bit differently, in my opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Turns out, Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf are visiting this kingdom for the holidays. (They sure do visit neighboring kingdoms often, huh?) They remark about how beautiful the decorations are everywhere, but notice that the castle is missing decor. \"Elsa!\" Anna exclaims. \"Wouldn't it be great if you used your frozen fractiley powers to cover the castle in ice and snow?!\" Elsa replies, \"Anna, I'd love to, but I can't. This isn't our home. We're just visiting and we have to be respectful to the people who live here.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That seems like a perfect cue for the person who DOES live here, right? Instead of Cinderella appearing and giving her blessing, though, Anna literally has the guests peer pressure Elsa into making graffiti on the castle. Ok, ok, so maybe this wasn't meant to be analyzed with such scrutiny, but I can't shake that this could've gone a little different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite this nitpicking, the brief ceremony is a delight. It peppers in clever phrases from <em>Frozen<\/em>'s script throughout its dialogue and includes pleasant orchestral versions of <em>Frozen<\/em> songs and Christmas tunes alike in what is basically an eight minutes of stalled anticipation for the lights to follow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The spectacle itself is still the same as it's always been since 2007. The lights are no different, and are beautiful as ever. Simply the \"turning on\" ceremony each night is now void of Cinderella. Will Elsa be convicted of trespassing charges this year?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Live-Hyperion.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Live-Hyperion\" class=\"wp-image-54651\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>3) <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em><br>Disney California Adventure (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If <em>A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration<\/em> at Disney's Hollywood Studios swerves expectations in an underwhelming (yet endearingly quirky) way, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> at Disney California Adventure swerves expectations in an overwhelming way. It's practically a mini Broadway musical, clocking in at 55 minutes and with the costuming and production value of anything you'd hope to find in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, in the performance I attended, most of the jokes were met with minimal laughter. It would stand to reason that as many times audiences in the room have seen <em>Frozen<\/em> over and over, hearing the same jokes simply aren't funny anymore. However, this could've just been the show I was at and not a common issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though it's nearly flawless, <em>Frozen \u2014 Live at the Hyperion<\/em> holds a sour reputation among some for replacing the phenomenal <em>Aladdin \u2014<\/em> <em>A Musical Spectacular<\/em>, which had performed in this space since 2003 and <strong>did<\/strong> vary up its script with different material and even topical jokes for Genie based on current events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tokyo-Disneyland-Frozen-Fantasy.png\" alt=\"Anna-Elsa-Frozen-Fantasy-Tokyo-Disneyland\" class=\"wp-image-54652\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>2) <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy<\/em><\/strong><br><strong>Tokyo Disneyland (2015-2018<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Imagine <em>Frozen Summer Fun<\/em> from Disney's Hollywood Studios on steroids. Or, perhaps more realistically, with a much bigger budget. That's what <em>Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy <\/em>was at Tokyo Disneyland. This was a seasonal Frozen festival on a grand scale that honestly put Hollywood Studios to shame. With a stronger parade, more park-wide activities, and more impressive fireworks, this celebration lasted four years, with its final season ending last year in 2018. Its big claim to fame? This was the only place in any Disney park to date where you could see Prince Hans.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Frozen-Ever-After.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Ever-After-Epcot\" class=\"wp-image-54653\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>1.) <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em><br>Epcot (2016-present<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Out this entire list, this is the only item to be a ride. Everything else is some form of live entertainment. Because of the investment and longevity that comes with building a permanent ride as well as the trajectory of influence this particular ride set into motion, it makes the top of our countdown as #1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frozen Ever After is a boat ride taking place after the events of <em>Frozen<\/em>. It's \"winter in summer\" day, celebrating the day on the calendar that Anna saved Elsa with an act of true love. To commemorate, we're invited to take a boat tour of Arendelle. Along the way, we see plenty of familiar faces and even hear a few familiar tunes. This structure is unique from most classic Disney rides of this same style in that <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> doesn't simply retell the events from <em>Frozen<\/em>, though the nature of it is so similar that if you're not paying close attention, you might think it does that anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With stellar Audio-Animatronics figures and even a bit of thrill, <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> is one of Epcot's best attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The context surrounding the ride is particularly curious, though. It replaced <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, a longstanding ride celebrating Norwegian culture. Despite being located within the Norway pavilion and even using the same track layout as <em>Maelstrom<\/em>, <em>Frozen Ever After <\/em>doesn't even try to work in Norwegian heritage into its narrative. At first, this seemed to be a departure of form for Epcot. Now that we're a few years after its opening and we know what Disney's building next, though, the ride was actually a taste of a new era for Epcot, one less occupied with education and more focused on characters. Future attractions will bring <em>Ratatouille<\/em> to the France pavilion and <em>Mary Poppins<\/em> to the United Kingdom pavilion. Elsewhere in the park, a <em>Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em> roller coaster will open (though that, at least, has been promised to include educational value somewhere within it). Whether this new direction for Epcot is exciting or apocalyptic depends on who you ask, but the park is for certain in the middle of a transformation toward a new version of itself, and one might point the beginning of that transformation back to Frozen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen-1024x401.png\" alt=\"Walt-Disney-Studios-Paris-Frozen\" class=\"wp-image-54654\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It should come as no surprise that, now being an established staple of the Disney fold, Frozen is continuing to be used, perhaps now even more than ever. Following Epcot's lead, multiple permanent attractions are currently in development for Disney theme parks around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Hong Kong Disneyland, a new Frozen area <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hong-kong-disneyland-transformation-includes-castle-of-magical-dreams-new-frozen-area-with-coaster-frozen-ever-after-attraction\/\">will include<\/a> a replica of <em>Frozen Ever After<\/em> along with an all-new ride, <em>Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs<\/em>. Disney says the ride \"begins when you visit Oaken\u2019s infamous store. Then, Olaf and Sven help pull your sled to the top of the lift before sending you on your way.\" It appears to be similar in function to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, though that is pure speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disneyland Paris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/travel\/story\/disney-releases-details-frozen-land-65542366\">will welcome<\/a> a Frozen land to its Walt Disney Studios park that will include a restaurant and, mysteriously, an attraction inside Arendelle's neighboring mountain range...!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Tokyo DisneySea <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/largest-ever-tokyo-disneysea-expansion-brings-a-new-themed-port-in-2022\/\">will open<\/a> \"magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy,\" which include locales based on <em>Peter Pan<\/em>, <em>Tangled<\/em>, and <em>Frozen<\/em>. Imagine a high-tech Fantasyland and I think we're on the right track. Frozen's involvement in this new port include a boat ride (unconfirmed to be Frozen Ever After or not) and a restaurant inside the Arendelle castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Have you experienced any of these <em>Frozen<\/em> attractions? Which would you be most excited to visit?<\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] Top 10 'Frozen' Theme Park Attractions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-top-10-frozen-theme-park-attractions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-05 10:37:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-05 17:37:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53924","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54594,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-11-02 07:00:51","post_date_gmt":"2019-11-02 14:00:51","post_content":"<p><strong>It's Frozember! Each day this month, Rotoscopers is celebrating <em>Frozen<\/em>, all in anticipation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/tag\/frozen-2\"><em>Frozen 2<\/em><\/a>, arriving in theaters November 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reflecting upon success, a common phrase expressed is that no one saw it coming. It was unexpected. It took everyone by surprise. That can't be said, though,\u00a0for\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em> \u2014 the 53rd film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its debut in 2013 and, from every angle, an undisputed success.<\/p>\n<p>Disney knew <em>Frozen<\/em> would be big. They even told us\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>would be big. Is that, then, the reason why it ended up big? Because Disney said so? Let's find out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Revival<\/h1>\n<p>To borrow some 2019 slang for a 2013 story,\u00a0<em>Tangled\u00a0<\/em>walked so\u00a0<em>Frozen\u00a0<\/em>could run. Actually, you could replace\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> with any number of Disney Animation projects from the years that preceded\u00a0<em>Frozen<\/em>, but\u00a0<em>Tangled<\/em> is the most direct comparison of genre and scope (and the one that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2014\/05\/25\/tangled-vs-frozen-which-is-the-better-movie\/\">our readers<\/a> have had most fun breaking down over the years, with over 360 comments and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Tangled-Poster-735x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tangled-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation community collectively refers to the time period of <em>Frozen<\/em>'s release as \"The Disney Revival.\" The exact distinguishing years may vary depending on who you ask, but this era is generally acknowledged as beginning with 2007's <em>Meet the Robinsons<\/em>, or when Disney purchased Pixar and Pixar leadership began reshaping the culture and standards of Disney Animation following a lackluster slump. Each succeeding film seemed to get better and better, continuing with <em>Bolt<\/em> (2008), <em>The Princess and the Frog<\/em> (2009), <em>Tangled<\/em> (2010), <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em> (2011), and <em>Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> (2012). By the time 2013 rolled around, Disney Animation had re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with and a standard-setter within the industry as it had been prior. In this way, the arrival of <em>Frozen<\/em> as an epic, CGI, fairytale musical was the achievement of a multi-year undertaking to make Disney Animation great again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not we're still living in the Disney Revival here in 2019 is up for debate, and perhaps a larger topic than this post has room for, but regardless, audiences were poised for <em>Frozen <\/em>in 2013 because they trusted Disney to deliver a quality product. The same couldn't have been said a few years prior, and perhaps hindered some of the early gems of this era from getting much attention. <em>Frozen<\/em> came at the peak of all this, and therefore was already primed to be a hit from the offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Frozen-Poster-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Poster\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Tidal Wave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped that it's legitimately a great movie. Critics doted upon it. Audiences adored it. Kids couldn't get enough of the merchandise. The soundtrack was a hit parade of great songs. The characters were endearing. The story was heartfelt. As Screen Junkies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zb5IH57SorQ\">noted on YouTube<\/a>, <em>Frozen<\/em> was even adjusted for inflation to include not one but two Disney princesses. <em>Frozen<\/em> checked all the boxes of 1.) something Disney could utilize across its many arms of synergy and 2.) something the public made exponentially bigger because of its continued explosive response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disney did a lot to spread the good news of <em>Frozen<\/em>, but audiences did just as much to help the movement. They kept coming back to theater again and again, eventually making <em>Frozen<\/em> the highest-grossing animated film ever at that time. Radio stations proudly played \"Let It Go\" across their airwaves \u2014 and not just Demi Lovato's pop version of the song from the film's end credits, but the actual, original version of the song as performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa within the movie! There was a continued ebb and flow between studio and  Disney made more opportunities to celebrate <em>Frozen<\/em>, and the public took them up on those, creating greater demand for Disney to presence <em>Frozen<\/em> even more, and thus the cycle continued on and on until, somewhere along the line, <em>Frozen<\/em> became a phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Let-It-Go-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-54637\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was re-released to theaters in January 2014 for a sing-along engagement, with song lyrics at the bottom of the screen encouraging audiences to interact with the film at the top of their voice. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, with \"Let It Go\" likewise winning for Best Song. And in contrast, the public continued going nuts by creating <em>Frozen<\/em> content of their own. Cover song after cover song appeared on social media platforms, with some meeting viral reception. <em>Good Morning America<\/em> even hosted a simulcast moment where different viewers and celebrities all sang \"Let It Go\" from differences places around the world at the same time. <em>Frozen <\/em>was something that connected people in a special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the season surrounding <em>Frozen<\/em>'s immediate debut faded, Disney positioned itself to maximize the imprint <em>Frozen <\/em>could make. Anna and Elsa became characters on ABC's drama <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>. A Broadway musical was commissioned. Theme park attractions were put into development. A short film, <em>Frozen Fever<\/em>, was quickly greenlit into production for a 2015 release, followed by the ultimate announcement of a sequel that we not anxiously await in just a few weeks' time. We're looking forward to looking back (wait, what?) at many of these favorite <em>Frozen<\/em> moments as Frozember continues right here on Rotoscopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Frozen-Broadway-Elsa.jpg\" alt=\"Frozen-Broadway-Elsa\" class=\"wp-image-49252\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to our question from the top of this post... did Disney know <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a hit? In a word, yes. In fact, they even told us so themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The teaser trailer for <em>Frozen<\/em> debuted in June 2013, accompanying <em>Monsters University <\/em>in theaters. It featured Olaf and Sven in a comical pantomime vignette, not unlike the classic Disney shorts of Walt's era that emphasized cartoony physical comedy. It was cute. But it was confusing. There was no hint at <em>Frozen<\/em>'s scope. There was no mention of songs. There wasn't even an appearance by Anna or Elsa. The general public was left thinking Disney was about to bring them a cutesy film about a reindeer and a snowman. Animation fans in the know about the film's ambition were left wondering why Disney was why about sharing what <em>Frozen<\/em> really was. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/06\/17\/first-frozen-teaser-released\/\">comments in our post about the teaser<\/a> from 2013 are fascinating to look back on.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1x76DoACB8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came September and the first real trailer. This gave us clarity, but still shied away from embracing its true self. It pitched the film as a straightforward comedy, much like how <em>Tangled<\/em> was marketed. (The comments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2013\/09\/26\/full-length-frozen-trailer-finally-released\/\">our post about that trailer<\/a> are similarly as fascinating as the teaser, but channeled with opposite emotions of pure joy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RwGlFYqbJIM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, in October 2013, came THAT trailer. This was it. This was the moment. This was when Disney told us loud and proud that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be a force to be reckoned with. It didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. This was a Disney fairytale through and through, and it projected that clearly. As clips from the film swell into a grand arrangement of \"For the First Time In Forever\" (which was, incidentally, the first time anyone had heard the song), the trailer proclaimed that <em>Frozen<\/em> would be <strong>\"The greatest Disney animated event since <\/strong><em><strong>The Lion King<\/strong><\/em><strong>.\"<\/strong> Woah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_qR8YR6WeU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.44.48-PM-1024x450.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap\" class=\"wp-image-54633\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-5.45.06-PM-1024x448.png\" alt=\"Frozen-Trailer-Screencap-Lion-King\" class=\"wp-image-54638\" width=\"560\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is... Disney was right. They didn't just talk a big game. <em>Frozen<\/em> <strong>was<\/strong> the greatest animated event since <em>The Lion King<\/em>. How did they know? Clearly the studio was confident in the story. But they've released movies with great stories plenty of times that failed to gain traction with audiences. Could Disney identify the factors that made a long-term classic and not just a trendy moment, a passing fad? Could they see that these attributes, paired with a story they knew would connect with people, cemented <em>Frozen<\/em>'s legacy as something that would withstand through the ages as much as the studio's greatest triumphs of yore? Somehow, whether because they've been around the block a few times and they know the signs of a hit ahead of a release, or because of sheer blind faith speaking success into existence, they did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><em>Now in retrospect, do you agree with what Disney predicted in 2013? Was Frozen the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King? Do you believe we're still in the Disney Revival with Frozen 2? <\/em><\/h3>\n","post_title":"[FROZEMBER] The 'Frozen' Phenomenon","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"frozember-the-frozen-phenomenon","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-06 07:07:47","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-06 14:07:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53922","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54598,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-30 16:27:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-30 23:27:46","post_content":"The launch of Disney+ on November 12 is now less than two weeks away. Earlier today, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusives to the streaming platform.\n\n<em><strong>Pixar IRL<\/strong><\/em> (or, \"in real life\") is a short-form series that will bring the beloved characters of Pixar to reality in the real world. If you're picturing live-action remakes, you'd be mistaken. These moments will be brought to life out and about among unsuspecting citizens, somewhat of a prank show turned on its head. Take a look.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8lz4twIsWw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>Forky Asks a Question<\/strong><\/em> is a collection of 10 shorts starring Forky from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>. Still relatively new to... well... everything, Forky has a lot of queries about the world. These shorts will explore the things he wants to learn more about. From the trailer, below, we even get a peek at Peas In A Pod, a trio of characters from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> who were absent in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4e4UKAOgk_k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n<em><strong>SparkShorts<\/strong><\/em> is a series of artist-driven projects designed to give new storytellers opportunities to explore narratives, themes, and animation techniques. The first of these debuted on YouTube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/02\/10\/pixar-to-launch-spark-shorts-on-disney-watch-the-first-one-now\/\">earlier this year.<\/a> Three of these new <em>SparkShorts<\/em> coming to Disney+ have already been accompanying screenings of Disney films the past few weeks at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG7Xgy1akzI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\nDisney+ will also include the classic Pixar feature films you know and love. Along with, you know, a lot of other stuff, too.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Will you watch this new Pixar content?<\/h1>\nEdited by: Kelly Conley","post_title":"Pixar Reveals Line-Up of Original Programming for Disney+","post_excerpt":"With the launch of Disney+ on November 12 now less than 2 weeks away, Pixar unveiled a slate of original programming exclusive to the streaming platform.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"pixar-reveals-line-up-of-original-programming-for-disney","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-11-01 16:56:54","post_modified_gmt":"2019-11-01 23:56:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/?p=53916","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":54596,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2019-10-28 17:46:58","post_date_gmt":"2019-10-29 00:46:58","post_content":"<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>swept the globe by storm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/06\/21\/review-toy-story-4-is-anything-but-trash\/\">earlier this year<\/a> and recently arrived on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/2019\/10\/08\/toy-story-4-blu-ray-review-bonus-features-win-top-prize\/\">home video<\/a>. The film re-sparked a multitude of emotions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UqSc0yU1zWg\">conversations<\/a> in its audiences as love poured out once more for arguably Pixar's most beloved franchise. <em>Toy Story <\/em>is special, not only for the milestones it represents as Pixar's first feature and the world's first full-length computer-animated film, but also for what its themes and characters mean to its now multiple generations of viewers. Among the most prominent of observable narratives is Woody's, a character whose motivations, flaws, and changes become more complex with each passing <em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>volume, whose arc is fascinating to study.\n\nMany, myself included, questioned if\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4\u00a0<\/em>was necessary when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=soUiAsTGKDc\">first announced<\/a> in 2015. <em>Toy Story 3, <\/em>released in 2010, felt like such a perfect finale, and within the context of its predecessors, allowed the whole series to function as an admirable trilogy. In nearly every category, <em>Toy Story 3\u00a0<\/em>feels inherently like a bookend. Its opening fantasy sequence calls back the opening of <em>Toy Story<\/em> with Andy's playtime. Its final shot (the iconic blue sky and fluffy clouds) is the first film's first shot. It has the cinematic mechanics of a perfect ending. If\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was going to prove itself worthy, it needed to do that same legwork. As we're about to explore, it does.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep-1024x454.png\" alt=\"Toy-Story-4-Woody-Bo-Peep\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" \/>\n<h2>The Golden Rule of Pixar Sequels<\/h2>\nPixar's justification for sequels is relayed in Charles Solomon's book <em>The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey<\/em> (published in 2012, before <em>Toy Story 4<\/em> was conceived). Solomon shares how Pixar filmmakers always want a sequel to feel as if it's truly the next chapter of a bigger story that the animators were trying to tell all along. A Pixar sequel should feel as if the story of the series is mapped out from the beginning, even though it isn't.\n\nThat goal works a charm in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a simple move from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> laying out a vital foundation for what was to follow, even if it didn't realize it at the time. Bo Peep was excluded from\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, with director Lee Unkrich sharing in the film's bonus material that, as great of a character as she was, it didn't make sense that she would still be in the picture after all those years. Firstly, she was a lamp fixture, not a toy, but more importantly, she never belonged to Andy. She always belonged to his sister, Molly, and it didn't service the story for Andy to have kept her with his other toys as he grew up. Unkrich did state that one of his regrets of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was not featuring Bo in the opening fantasy scene, though perhaps her exclusion here was unknowingly necessary for her re-introduction in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> to pack the punch that it does.\n\n<img class=\"wp-image-54606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-4-Bo.jpg\" alt=\"toy-story-4-still-buzz-bo-peep-woody\" width=\"780\" height=\"326\" \/>\n\nUpon seeing\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> with a friend, he remarked, \"Wow, they really planned all that out well. Not having Bo Peep in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em> was so smart with what they wanted to do with her in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em>.\" And therein I realized that Pixar had achieved its own gold standard:\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> felt like a strategic chapter in a grander story, and therefore <em>had<\/em> to happen to complete the\u00a0<em>Toy Story\u00a0<\/em>narrative.\n\nGetting back to Woody, though, the change that occurs through him in\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> is reflected through language. It is the language more than anything that presents\u00a0<em>Toy Story 4<\/em> as the bookend to\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em>, with two key phrases coming to have new meaning: \"being there\" and \"lost toy.\"\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Toy-Story-Staff-Meeting-woody\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/>\n<h2>\"Being There\"<\/h2>\nIn\u00a0<em>Toy Story<\/em> during the staff meeting, Woody declares that the toys' job \"isn't about being played with, it's about being there for Andy when he needs us.\" More than anything, that's Woody's priority, and he longs for everyone else to prioritize that, too. There's nothing wrong with that. That <em>should<\/em> be his priority during that stage of his life. He's Andy's toy. Therefore, his job is to be there for Andy.\n\nThroughout\u00a0<em>Toy Story 2<\/em>, this mantra remains the same. At the beginning of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, despite nearly a decade passing and Andy being a teenager about to leave for college, this is still Woody's priority, with that same language being used. In a similar staff meeting (albeit with much less toys, now that Andy is older), Woody echoes, \"This job isn't about being played with, it's about\u2014\" \"\u2014Being there for Andy. We know.\" Jessie interrupts him, clearly having heard this speech before. Woody, perhaps naively, still longs with everything inside of him to be there for Andy.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-54604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rotoscopers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-28-at-8.31.46-PM-1024x568.png\" alt=\"woody-toy-story-4-still\" width=\"1024\" height=\"568\" \/>\n\nAt the end of\u00a0<em>Toy Story 3<\/em>, though, this phrase and that language comes to have completely new meaning for Woody, as scriptwriter Michael Arndt shares in the book <em>The Art of Toy Story 3<\/em>. Arndt takes us back to that moment: Woody inside Andy's college box, ready to leave the other toys behind. As Andy prepares to say goodbye to his childhood bedroom, his mother steps into the room and becomes emotional at the sight of the room packed up and empty, the ghost of her son's formative years vanished. Andy embraces her, and she implores, \"I just wish I could always be with you.\" Andy replies, \"You will be.\" In that instant, Woody makes a revelation. H