DisneyToon Studios

DisneyToon Studios

Type	Subsidiary of Walt Disney Animation Studios
Industry	Film and television
Founded	1988 (as Walt Disney Animation Australia) 2003 (as DisneyToon Studios)
Headquarters	Glendale, California, U.S.
Key people	Ed Catmull, President John Lasseter, Chief Creative Officer
Products	Motion pictures and television series service work
Owner(s)	The Walt Disney Company
Parent	Walt Disney Animation Studios
Website	[1]

DisneyToon Studios is an American animation studio owned by The Walt Disney Company, responsible for producing direct-to-video and occasional theatrical films for Walt Disney Studios.

The studio had originally been formed at the former location of Walt Disney Television Animation Australia or Walt Disney Animation Australia, one of several Disney television animation satellite studios responsible for programs such as Goof Troop, Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers, Bonkers, Quack Pack, Darkwing Duck, Timon and Pumbaa, and Aladdin. DisneyToon Studios later became the main producer of the many Disney sequels and direct-to-video films (along with the theatrically released Return to Never Land, The Jungle Book 2, and Piglet's Big Movie).

The Australia studio was closed in October 2006; the pre- and post-production facilities at the main Disney lot in Burbank, California, USA remain in operation. DisneyToon Studios is today a division of Walt Disney Animation Studios and continues to develop both theatrical and direct-to-video features based upon Disney Consumer Products franchises and television programs, as well as spin-offs and original properties.^[1]

History

Walt Disney Animation Australia had worked on Disney television series since its opening in 1988. Originally subcontracting to Asian studios such as TMS Entertainment, Cuckoo's Nest Studios, and Wang Film Productions, Walt Disney Television Animation began setting up its own foreign satellite studios by the end of the 1980s. In addition to Walt Disney Animation Australia, the company set up Walt Disney Animation Japan and Walt Disney Animation France (formerly the Brizzi Brothers Studios) to work on Disney television programs. As with most American television animation, the main Television Animation department in California handled pre-production (writing, storyboarding, and layout), while the satellite studios handled the animation production.

The television studios' first feature production was 1990's DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp, based upon the syndicated Disney TV show DuckTales. In 1994, the France studio was absorbed into Walt Disney Feature Animation as work began on a second Disney feature based on a TV show, A Goofy Movie (derived from Goof Troop). At the same time, Disney began producing direct-to-video sequels of its Feature Animation productions, the first of which was the Aladdin sequel The Return of Jafar. More DTV sequels followed, among them Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas (1997) , Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World (1998), The Lion King II: Simba's Pride (1998) , and Cinderella II: Dreams Come True (2002)

In 2003, the Australia studio became the main production hub of a new division known as DisneyToon Studios, exclusively dedicated to producing DTV sequels and spin-offs of Feature Animation productions. With the closings of the Disney studios in France, Florida, and Japan by 2004, as well as the conversion of the main Feature Animation studio in California to all-computer animation production, DisneyToon Australia became the only in-house Disney animation studio still actively producing works using traditional animation. Some of the DisneyToon productions, including Return to Never Land (2002) and The Jungle Book 2 (2003), received wide theatrical releases rather than being issued only on home video. The Australian studio also provided additional animation on Home on the Range (2004).

On July 25, 2005, Disney announced that it was closing DisneyToon Studios Australia in October 2006, after 17 years of existence, with its final feature being Cinderella III: A Twist in Time.^[2] The closing was attributed to the rising costs of animation production in Australia. DisneyToon Studios continued to produce its animated films (both traditional and computer-generated) after the closure by outsourcing to third party companies. These include Rough Draft Studios, Wang Film Productions, Kennedy Cartoons, Toon City, and Sunwoo, among others.

On June 22, 2007, management of DisneyToon Studios was turned over to the control of Ed Catmull and John Lasseter under the banner of the recently reorganized and renamed Feature Animation studio, now called Walt Disney Animation Studios. As chief creative officer, Lasseter called for the cancellation of all future films in production or development at DisneyToon Studios that weren't connected to a Disney Consumer Products franchise. As a result, planned or in-progress sequels to Dumbo, Chicken Little, Meet the Robinsons and The Aristocats were all cancelled, among other projects.^[3][4] A few days later, it was announced that DisneyToon would no longer produce future sequels to Disney animated films, but will instead focus on spin-offs and original films.^[5] Following conflicts over the new direction for the division, as well as complications relating to the production of a debut Tinker Bell DTV film, the previous president of DisneyToon, Sharon Morill, moved to a new position in the company.^[6]

Filmography

The following is a list of films produced by DisneyToon Studios.

#	Title	Release date
1	DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp 1, 4	August 3, 1990
2	The Return of Jafar 2, 4	May 20, 1994
3	Gargoyles the Movie: The Heroes Awaken 2, 3, 4	February 3, 1995
4	A Goofy Movie 1	April 7, 1995
5	Aladdin and the King of Thieves 2, 4	August 13, 1996
6	Mighty Ducks the Movie: The First Face-Off 2, 3, 4	April 8, 1997
7	Pooh's Grand Adventure: The Search for Christopher Robin 2	August 5, 1997
8	Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas 2	November 11, 1997
9	Belle's Magical World 2, 3, 4	February 17, 1998
10	Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World 2	August 25, 1998
11	The Lion King II: Simba's Pride 2	October 27, 1998
12	Doug's 1st Movie 1, 4	March 26, 1999
13	Hercules: Zero to Hero 2, 3, 4	August 17, 1999
14	Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas 2, 3, 4	November 9, 1999
15	Winnie the Pooh: Seasons of Giving 2, 3, 4	November 9, 1999
16	The Tigger Movie 1	February 11, 2000
17	An Extremely Goofy Movie 2, 3, 4	February 29, 2000
18	Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins 2, 3, 4	August 8, 2000
19	The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea 2	September 19, 2000
20	Recess: School's Out 1, 4	February 16, 2001
21	Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure 2	February 27, 2001
22	Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse 2, 3, 4	November 6, 2001
23	Recess Christmas: Miracle on Third Street 2, 3, 4	November 6, 2001
24	Return to Never Land 1	February 15, 2002
25	Cinderella II: Dreams Come True 2	February 26, 2002
26	The Hunchback of Notre Dame II 2, 3, 4	March 19, 2002
27	Tarzan & Jane 2, 3, 4	July 23, 2002
28	Mickey's House of Villains 2, 3, 4	September 3, 2002
29	Winnie the Pooh: A Very Merry Pooh Year 2, 3, 4	November 5, 2002
30	101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure 2	January 21, 2003
31	The Jungle Book 2 1	February 14, 2003
32	Piglet's Big Movie 1	March 21, 2003
33	Atlantis: Milo's Return 2, 3, 4	May 20, 2003
34	Stitch! The Movie 2, 3, 4	August 26, 2003
35	Recess: Taking the Fifth Grade 2, 3, 4	December 9, 2003
36	Recess: All Growed Down 2, 3, 4	December 9, 2003
37	Teacher's Pet 1, 4	January 16, 2004
38	The Lion King 1½ 2	February 10, 2004
39	Winnie the Pooh: Springtime with Roo 2	March 9, 2004
40	Mickey · Donald · Goofy: The Three Musketeers 2	August 17, 2004
41	Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas 2	November 9, 2004
42	Mulan II 2	February 1, 2005
43	Pooh's Heffalump Movie 1	February 11, 2005
44	Tarzan II 2	June 14, 2005
45	Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch 2	August 30, 2005
46	Pooh's Heffalump Halloween Movie 2	September 13, 2005
47	Kronk's New Groove 2	December 13, 2005
48	Bambi II 2	February 7, 2006
49	Leroy & Stitch 2, 3, 4	June 27, 2006
50	Brother Bear 2 2	August 29, 2006
51	The Fox and the Hound 2 2	December 12, 2006
52	Cinderella III: A Twist in Time 2	February 6, 2007
53	Disney Princess Enchanted Tales: Follow Your Dreams 2, 3, 4	September 4, 2007
54	The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning 2	August 26, 2008
55	Tinker Bell 2	October 28, 2008
56	Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure 2	October 27, 2009
57	Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue 2	September 21, 2010
58	Tinker Bell and the Pixie Hollow Games 2	November 19, 2011 6
59	Tinker Bell and the Mysterious Winter Woods 2	Fall 2012 6
60	Planes 2	Spring 2013[7] 6
61	Phineas and Ferb[8][9][10] 1, 4, 5	July 26, 2013[11] 6

Notes

1. Theatrical

2. Direct-to-video

3. Wrap-around animation

4. Films produced by Disney Television Animation

5. Live-action/animation film

6. Tentative release dates for upcoming films

See also

• List of Disney home entertainment

References

1. ^ Walt Disney Animation Studios to take over DisneyToon Studios - Topix
2. ^ http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200507/s1423134.htm
3. ^ AWN Headline News
4. ^ http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jim_hill/archive/2007/06/20/say-so-long-to-direct-to-video-sequels-disneytoon-studios-tunes-out-sharon-morrill.aspx
5. ^ http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117983709.html?categoryid=13&cs=1
6. ^ http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070622/media_nm/disney_toons_dc
7. ^ Raup, Jordan (February 17, 2011) "'Cars' Spin-Off 'Planes' Landing Spring 2013; New 'Toy Story' Short Attracted To 'The Muppets'". thefilmstage.com. http://thefilmstage.com/2011/02/17/cars-spin-off-planes-landing-spring-2013-new-toy-story-short-attracted-to-the-muppets. Retrieved 28 August, 2011. 
8. ^ Deadline Team, The (January 10, 2011) "TCA: Disney Developing ‘Phineas and Ferb’ Feature". Deadline.com. http://www.deadline.com/2011/01/tca-disney-developing-phineas-and-ferb-feature/. Retrieved 28 August, 2011. 
9. ^ Disney Planning Phineas and Ferb Feature Film - ComingSoon.net
10. ^ Dreaming, Disney (January 11, 2011) "Disney Planning “Phineas and Ferb” Movie". disneydreaming.com. http://www.disneydreaming.com/2011/01/11/disney-planning-phineas-and-ferb-movie/. Retrieved 28 August, 2011. 
11. ^ Hollywood Reporter, The (October 13, 2011) "Official: Disney's "Lone Ranger" Sets May 31, 2013 Release Date". HollywoodReporter.com. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/disneys-lone-ranger-sets-may-31-release-date-248191. 

External links

• DisneyToon Studios at the Internet Movie Database