The Walt Disney Company for decades has been viewed as an established powerhouse and as a family friendly company in the animation industry.
Its success has received praise for its creativity and stories in films, but the company has shifted to live-action remakes and sequels.
D23 Expo, the official Disney Fan Club, announced earlier this year about upcoming projects the company will be releasing in the next couple years, according to an Aug. 9 D23 article.
Disney announced that the company is in the works on expanding stories of franchises including “Moana,” “Frozen,” “Zootopia,” “Toy Story” and “The Incredibles,” according to an Aug. 10 CNBC article.
Moana first hit theaters in 2016 and its anticipated sequel is expected to be released on Nov. 27, according to the same CNBC article.
The first film was phenomenal and told a compelling story of Moana, a self-titled protagonist.
In the movie, Moana goes on a journey to save her island by sailing across the ocean with Maui, a demigod, and her animal companions Heihei, her rooster, and Pua, her pet pig.
The sequel looks promising from watching the trailers.
However, as an avid Disney fan, I am not setting the bar high for the sequel in comparison to its predecessor’s success.
“Moana” is an outstanding film on its own and the Disney fan inside of me anticipates the continuous journey of Moana and Maui.
In addition to the release of the “Moana 2,” the Disney movie “Zootopia” is also getting a sequel and is scheduled to arrive in theaters on Nov. 26, 2025, according to an Aug. 29 IGN article.
“Zootopia” is also another adventurous fun film and I am interested in the continuing plot Disney will establish for the main characters, bunny cop Judy Hopps and sly fox Nick Wilde.
Meanwhile, I am scratching my head that Disney is on board with Toy Story 5, Frozen III and Incredibles 3 because I am puzzled about the company’s idea for a plot.
The “Toy Story,” “Frozen” and “The Incredibles” franchises are contributors that made Disney’s popularity boom.
With “Toy Story’s” first four films, the franchise generated $3.2 billion globally, while the two “Frozen” films hit $2.7 billion and “The Incredibles” movies reached $1.8 billion worldwide, according to the same CNBC article.
At this point, it is best to put these franchises to rest because there is no need to continue.
The “Toy Story” franchise should have been left alone after the release of the third film because it ended on the perfect note.
Meanwhile, “Frozen” and “The Incredibles” were standout films alone and it seemed odd of Disney to make sequels for them.
The sequels were enjoyable, but both did not measure up to the quality of the plot than its predecessors and both ended up making more money than the original films.
With the company adding more to one of its most box office successful films, Disney is entering franchise fatigue.
Franchise fatigue is a term that is used to describe audiences feeling less excitement about box office films getting a sequel or a remake, according to a Feb. 22, 2022 PULSE Magazine article.
The company went beyond its original films natural end points and it resulted in annoyance for fans including me.
Disney is overzealously relying on these franchises and appears to be banking on them, creating the notion that they are used for extra revenue.
Besides generating revenue on animated sequels, the company is also counting on live action remakes from classic animated films.
The remake of the 1937 version of “Snow White” starring Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot playing the Evil Queen, is set to release early in 2025, according to the same IGN article.
I can already tell that this film will flop and Gadot will be left to carry the live action adaptation.
Along with a “Snow White” live action, “Lilo & Stitch,” “Moana” and “Mufasa: The Lion King” are set to come to life in the years to come, according to the same IGN article.
These films are perfect the way they are in animation and have no reason to be remade in a different version.
Snow White is one of Disney’s earliest films that embraced elements of music and fantasy, creating a vibrant world even though the story is dark in hindsight.
Meanwhile movies like “Lilo & Stitch,” “Moana” and “The Lion King” provided laughter, adventure and touching moments that brought meaning to the viewers.
Bob Iger, the current CEO of Disney, has said the company is focusing on producing high quality films in the industry, according to a Nov. 23, 2023 Deadline article.
Iger said he believes that quality writing of a film is crucial in producing an excellent film to show out on the big screen, according to the same Deadline article.
He also said the outcome of putting out a successful film is to contribute to the loads of cash rolling in globally, and sometimes the quantity can take over the quality of a film, according to the same Deadline article.
Iger’s words do resonate on how I view the current work of Disney, but it is hard to believe that he will bring the Disney magic back.
While the company is bringing nostalgia for audiences who grew up watching the films, it feels as though Disney has lost its magic in creating new stories and developing new characters.
Since audience members such as myself strongly want originality, the repetitiveness of these familiar stories prompts a conversation about the current storytelling in the Disney universe.
Disney is setting the bar low with their bland writing and lack of effort in turning on their brains and generating new ideas.
