MovieChat Forums > Moana (2016) Discussion > Illumination just kind of crept up on Di...

Illumination just kind of crept up on Disney.

posted 8 years ago by QueenFanUSA
27 replies | jump to latest

Disney has always been acutely aware of the presence of DreamWorks Animation and considered them to be their most formidable competitor. I think they saw Despicable Me to be a fluke success and that the studio was a one-trick pony. I think this holiday season is where Disney realizes that they have their most ferocious competitor to date.

Illumination is planting future flags all over the release schedule for the forseeable future near Disney's releases. Of course, we have Sing opening in just days to red-hot buzz within the industry and social media. Does anyone doubt that Despicable Me 3 will own next summer as far as animated films go? Does anyone think that their Christmas release, an animated Grinch That Stole Christmas, will dominate that holiday frame? To make matters worse, they do all of this at 1/3 to 1/2 of what typical Disney/Pixar films cost to produce.

Now...Universal bought DreamWorks and it will also be overseen by Illumination's Chris Melendri. Universal is also gunning for Disney's market share in the theme park business. Never...never has Disney had a competitor like this.

Edit: The cash-cow business of merchandising is doing spectacularly well also. They've owned it this year with SLoP alone.

[–] !!!deleted!!! (69149217) 8 years ago

Despicable me 3 could actually be the highest grossing film of summer 2017. GOTG interest doesn't seem as high as civil war and spiderman homecoming could be another box office disappointment.

[–] QueenFanUSA 8 years ago

Despicable me 3 could actually be the highest grossing film of summer 2017.

It actually has a very good chance of becoming the highest grossing animated film of all time. Minions made it to #2 on the list.

[–] Zaphenzo 8 years ago

Okay, so Illumination is their most ferocious competitor....and yet Disney is still the winner. Disney is still on top, and will remain on top. Will you at least admit that if Moana outgrosses Sing? Or will you still somehow find some random reason that makes no sense to explain why Illumination is so much better?

[–] !!!deleted!!! (69149217) 8 years ago

Read the OP again idiot. She clearly says illumination studios suck.

[–] Zaphenzo 8 years ago

Yes, but she also brags on them endlessly. She is supposedly a Disney fan who's just scared of Illumination because they make a ton of money, but the way she talks, who knows. She seems more like an Illumination fan. She's been posting every single day in another thread a countdown until Sing comes out and Moana gets left in the dust.

[–] QueenFanUSA 8 years ago

@Zaphenzo

Please...I'm insulted if you think I could actually be a fan of that crap factory.

Tsk, tsk.😉

[–] !!!deleted!!! (69149217) 8 years ago

Because the people that like sing and other illumination crapfests are the ones that put donald trump at office. That's scary.

[–] tcoultis-46830 8 years ago

Don't presume that idiots are the ones who voted for Trump.

It's those who are looking for handouts who vote for the Dems

[–] QueenFanUSA 8 years ago

tcoutis...very true.

[–] QueenFanUSA 8 years ago

Will you at least admit that if Moana outgrosses Sing?

It depends by how much, tbh. Remember that Moana's production budget was twice that of Sing's.

[–] OhNooos 8 years ago

Good for them. Disney needs competition.

[–] QueenFanUSA 8 years ago

OhNoos...that's a good point. However, Disney is producing magnificent stuff that costs a lot of money to produce. Illumination cranks out cheap crapola and receives the same box-office...sometimes much more. When all is said and done, The Secret Life of Pets worldwide gross will tower over Moana's. Most likely, Sing's will as well.

Due to stockholder pressure...will Disney cave and go the Illumination route of cheap movies and huge profits? Low-brow and stupid films that are really as disposable as a used tissue?

[–] OhNooos 8 years ago

I understand the concern. I had the same concern when I heard that Universal bought Dreamworks. Hopefully, the business model won't catch on with either studio. When Walt and Jeffrey began their studios, they each had a vision of the types of films they hoped to create. It was about more than profit. The Disney studio has seemed to hold onto that vision all these years. I'm hoping the same can be said of Dreamworks, even without Jeffrey, but it may be too soon to tell.

[–] QueenFanUSA 8 years ago

OhNoos...I keep chasing after you from thread to thread asking the same question...have you seen Moana yet?

If so...what did you think?

[–] OhNooos 8 years ago

Sorry, QueenFan - I just saw this. Usually, I get a notice when someone responds to my post. No, sadly, I haven't had a chance yet. Life has gotten very hectic and it looks to remain so until after New Years. It's still on my radar and I'm hoping I'll get a chance while it's still in the theater, but it may not happen. We'll see. My friends who have seen it said it was gorgeous and a lot of fun.

[–] QueenFanUSA 8 years ago

Oh...that sucks! I hope you get a chance to see it on the big screen.

[–] OhNooos 8 years ago

Me, too. The background shots alone would make it worth it on the big screen. Did you see it in 3D or 2D?

[–] QueenFanUSA 8 years ago

[–] OhNooos 8 years ago

Were there any special parts that popped because it was in 3D? Sometimes, I can point to areas where the 3D really enhanced an experience, if it was done well.

[–] QueenFanUSA 8 years ago

Of course it was really immersive and it really enhanced the water effects. The nihghtime starry sky took my breath away!

[–] OhNooos 8 years ago

Oooo! That sounds lovely! Reminds me of the starry sky scene in The Croods. I want a tee shirt of that.

[–] !!!deleted!!! (69149217) 8 years ago

Answer her damn question. Did you or did you not see moana?

[–] QueenFanUSA 8 years ago

Krychs...lol.

[–] marclev78 8 years ago

Illumination has it's moments, but they lack the "magic" that Disney injects into their projects. It's difficult to pinpoint, but there's something about Disney movies that can be appealing to all ages, whereas what I've seen of Illumination's output appears to be best described as cheap "assembly line" style output that may entertain young kids but hasn't got much for other demographics.

[–] QueenFanUSA 8 years ago

whereas what I've seen of Illumination's output appears to be best described as cheap "assembly line" style output that may entertain young kids but hasn't got much for other demographics.

Judging by their box office it looks like they appeal to a wide swath of the demographics.

It's strange, because they really produce mediocre crap.

[–] ma3337 8 years ago

I hated the Minions and the Despicable Me movies but I liked SLOP and Sing. Disney animation is far more superior when it comes to animation and quality. I think Disney is doing a lot better too, Zootopia and Dory made more than $1 Billion which SLOP did not make and Sing will probably not make.

[–] QueenFanUSA 8 years ago

Slop made almost 900 million on 1/3 the production budget of Finding Dory and less than 1/2 of Zootopia's.