Live Action Mulan Film in China

asianmoviepulse.com

Hong Kong director, Jingle Ma has created a live action movie based on the folk tale of Hua Mulan

starring Wei Zhao.

This is not necessarily business, nor completely Disney related, but I don't care because this is pretty boss.

Of course, Disney made an animated version of the Chinese folklore in 1998, but this film will not have

Broadway style musical numbers, an Eddie Murphy voiced sidekick, or convenient solutions to all problems.

Instead, it will focus more on the more human (rather than godly hero) aspect of the character and her

emotional response in fighting.

As of now the film opens in China, Singapore and Malaysia on Friday, but distribution deals for the U.S.

and Europe are being negotiated.

/Not really related, but pretty exciting anyway.

Return to Hand Drawn Animation

"I've never understood why the studios were saying people don't want to see hand-drawn animation.

What people don't want to watch is a bad movie."

Oh, John Lasseter, you get me every time.

Back in 2003, Disney converted to all digital animation after they had a couple hand-drawn flops (Treasure Planet, Brother Bear) while other studios made out great with their CG works (Shrek, Finding Nemo). Now they're probably realizing, as Lasseter points out, the problem was the stories, not the animation and are therefore kickin it old school style with their next princess movie, The Princess and the Frog. Also, traditional animation may come out cheaper than computer versions, as upcoming The Princess and the Frog managed.

Of course this means Disney had to refurbish half of their production department to accommodate their old, stored hand animation desks and equipment. In a heartwarming move, this also involves rehiring old Disney employees that had been booted at the dawn of CG animation.

This move was brought on in part by Pixar's Ed Catmull and John Lasseter, ironically, the men pretty much responsible for computer animated feature films.

The fact that Disney's The Princess and the Frog, due out this December, is very traditional - both in animation style and it's "Broadway-style" musical numbers - comes as a great selling point for those interested in animation, nostalgic for old Disney films, and a new generation of kids that haven't fully experienced such a Disney Princess movie.

Another tactic to create buzz for the movie should come from word-of-mouth after advanced screenings in NYC and LA with special events held afterwards.

Regular US Release Date: December 11, 2009.

Mouse Round-Up

Getting you up to date on random Disney company projects and going-ons:

Disney Creativity Recession

According to a recent article in The New York Post, Disney is facing some troubles in vision and finance, citing the fact they've fairly recently acquired Pixar and Marvel while also financing Dreamworks. They see this as a dire need for new content.

Follow the jump.

Family guy, Disney, singing about pie? Story of my life.

I liked this until they reminded me Walt was an anti-semite.

Just thought I'd share.

Family Guy goes Disney (via Buzzfeed)

Mickey Mouse meet Mighty Mouse

Marvel.com

I know, old news at this point, but better late than never.

The $4 billion deal of Disney buying Marvel isn't as confusing as many bloggers/vloggers seem to think considering Disney also owns networks ABC and ESPN; already fairly removed from the wholesome, 1950's sterile image they traditional attempt to keep.

Much, much more under the jump.