The business of animation is much different now than it was when I was little. Heck it’s different now than it was 15 years ago. In the last decade or so, animation has become huge business, with studios like Disney/Pixar and DreamWorks basically re-writing the future of the animated movie. The studios have raised the stakes with animated feature films by ensuring they not only appeal to kids but to parents as well. But engaging the parents is where it gets tricky.
It’s the missing piece if you think about it. Marketing a movie to kids is relatively simple, but the kids aren’t the ones who are buying the movie tickets. Television commercials and fast food toys used to work in getting kids excited about the latest film release– but in this generation of healthier eating and marketing savvy parents who own pvr’s or subscribe to cable channels that don’t rely on typical commercial marketing, this means studios had to be smarter. So they brought in not just studio voice actors but big name Hollywood stars and started making movies that appealed to parents as well as their children so everyone could enjoy the experience.
And it's worked so well that, not only do we line up with our kids to see the latest blockbuster animated movie, we wait for it! We anticipate the theatrical release because it’s something we can share with our kids that we enjoy too. And it’s not just the audience that loves the big name celebrities – the celebs themselves love starring in top grossing movies that they can watch with their kids. Angelina Jolie actually said the stories in these animated movies are often better than most scripts out there - and what celebrity wouldn’t want to be part of a hit movie?!
2011 will give us sequels to the animated smash hits Cars, Happy Feet and Kung Fu Panda – three movies that had huge numbers at the box office.
Kung Fu Panda was released in May of 2008 and featured a star studded cast that would leave most directors salivating. Not only does it star Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman and Angelina Jolie as the main characters, but the supporting roles were voiced by the likes of Lucy Liu, Seth Rogen and Jackie Chan.
When Kung Fu Panda was first released, Angelina Jolie was pregnant with twins Vivienne and Knox. The cast went to Cannes – Cannes – to promote the movie! Imagine – Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, a pregnant Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt all walking the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival for a cartoon!
But the best part – Kung Fu Panda was praised universally not just for its cast but for being a really great movie!Kung Fu Panda was a movie which paid homage to traditional Kung Fu movies, was applauded for staying true to Chinese culture and has an underlying message for kids that believing in yourself was the most important trait you could possess.
Kung Fu Panda’s appeal to both parents and kids was immediately evident as it owned the box office on its opening weekend, grossing $20.3 million on its opening day and $60.2 million on its opening weekend. The film became DreamWorks's biggest opening for a non-sequel film. Yes, animation is big business. And that kind of box office success isn’t the only reason why animated films have appealed to Hollywood’s elite. Stars like Robin Williams, Will Smith, Bonnie Hunt, Bruce Willis, Tom Hanks, Tim Allen and Angelina Jolie’s love Brad Pitt have all voiced characters in animated features – many because of their desire to be in a movie they could show to their children.
Hollywood’s most famous parents are walking the red carpet with their kids and loving the fact that they can sit down and watch their own movie with their family. During the press tour for this movie Angelina said she loved that her character was so disciplined, focused and strong because it set such a great example for her own kids.
So it’s no wonder DreamWorks will be releasing a sequel to Kung Fu Panda this summer, with the original star studded cast returning. If you haven’t had a chance to check out Kung Fu Panda, you really are missing out! But never fear because TELETOON is airing Kung Fu Panda on March 12 (at 7pm ET/PT), the perfect beginning to your March Break. Make sure you check it out with your family and get ready for the 3D sequel that will hit theatres this May.
Scene and Heard
Confessions from a Pop Culture Mummy
More upcoming TELETOON Big Ticket Movies on
Saturdays at 7pm ET/PT:
- March 19: Madagascar 2
- March 26: Babe: Pig in the City
- April 2: Scooby-Doo: Camp Scare
- April 9: Horton Hears a Who
- April 16: Space Chimps
You can check out www.teletoon.com for more details.
This blog proudly sponsored by TELETOON Network
Printer-friendly version