Non-Disney Animated Films on Broadway- Page 2

[lady_luck]

Posted: 10/20/17 at 12:04pm

BwayLB said: "Hello I'm a new member here on the Message Board and I like to start my membership with talking the trend of movies on Broadway. I have ideas for a few Non Disney Animated films that would be amazing for Broadway.
 

Quest for Camelot 

THIS! I have always thought that the Quest for Camelot soundtrack is one of the best of all time. This movie is DYING to be made into a Broadway show! Can you imagine the staging? I think it would be entertaining for children, but also has deep enough themes that it would appeal to adults. Now if they could only figure out a way to successfully portray the dragons...

 

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 10/20/17 at 1:29pm

Ferngully The Last Rainforest (1992)

NO. Why?

The Swan Princess (1994)
Didn't people dislike the singing contest number in The Little Mermaid? Also you would need more/better songs. The sets feel like they would pose a problem unless they were a bit boring in which case... what's the point of putting it on stage? But it doesn't seem like the kind of property that would have a big budget. How do you represent her as a swan? I feel like it could be an OK piece for children's theater with puppetry or something like that but there's a reason why it works better as a movie. 

Cats Don't Dance (1997)
So many animals... Animals on stage can work... but it's tough. Also, it's more of a send up/homage to classic movies. Again, unnecessary.

Pebble and the Penguin (1995)

Oh, boy. Not getting into it. But you've got a real Don Bluth thing going.

Thumbelina (1994)

I guess you could cast an Alli Mauzey/Kristin Chenoweth sized actress but... again, it feels unnecessary. Also, again so many animals. As far as the story and score go, I do think there's a stronger case for a stage adaptation. And we'd finally get a Barry Manilow musical on Broadway.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 10/20/17 at 1:51pm

TheSassySam said: "EDIT: I forgot Studio Ghibli is a part of Disney, still think it would make a great musical!"

Anyone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but as I understand it, Disney is merely the US distributer of many Ghibli films. They have an overseas partnership, but Ghibli is its own studio. They are not a part of Disney in the way that Pixar or ABC is. 

 

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 10/20/17 at 1:58pm

I think you have it right, JBroadway. Pixar handled the English dub of Ponyo and a division of Disney handles home video but I think that's as much as Disney gets involved. 

[BwayLB]

Posted: 10/20/17 at 2:47pm

These movies I picked are tough but just thoughts. I thought Ferngully because it would look beautiful and the environmental themes are resonant. An adaptation needs more original songs for particular characters like Crysta Zack Pips and Magie.

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 10/20/17 at 4:10pm

Aside from the Disney machinery and relative quality of the source material, I think Disney movies have a better shot at being adapted for the stage because in general they have more human characters and they don't have too many elements that are far easier to translate in animation (exceptions are Lion King, TLM, and Tarzan). 

It's Disney but Hercules could be done in spite of the creatures and some of the stylized animation. It's not hard to think of a creative way to represent the battles and the underworld that captures enough of the movie to not be disappointing. 

For non-Disney, one of those Barbie movies could work. Their Princess and the Pauper isn't terrible. I remember someone was working on James and the Giant Peach but I think that's just based on the book.

Looking at this list, there's not a lot that seems worth adapting for the stage. It was smartly designed to exist as a movie. That's where a lot of these things belong. Anastasia was the one (aside from historical accuracy) with the right elements. There are other live action movies you could adapt or hey, do something original.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Animated_musical_films

[vampire musical]

Posted: 10/20/17 at 4:29pm

BwayLB said: "vampire musical said: "All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989)

Please someone make this happen!"

I think that would be tough to do the dog characters"

Oh I know. But the songs are actually really good which made me think of it.  I'd settle with seeing it in concert. 54 Below show series idea?? 

On the Studio Ghibli front, Spirited Away makes more sense than Howl's Moving Castle. At least it's a more coherent story. 

[BwayLB]

Posted: 10/20/17 at 5:35pm

VintageSnarker said: "Aside from the Disney machinery and relative quality of the source material, I think Disney movies have a better shot at being adapted for the stage because in general they have more human characters and they don't have too many elements that are far easier to translate in animation (exceptions are Lion King, TLM, and Tarzan).

It's Disney but Hercules could be done in spite of the creatures and some of the stylized animation. It's not hard to think of a creative way to represent the battles and the underworld that captures enough of the movie to not be disappointing.

For non-Disney, one of those Barbie movies could work. Their Princess and the Pauper isn't terrible. I remember someone was working on James and the Giant Peach but I think that's just based on the book.

Looking at this list, there's not a lot that seems worth adapting for the stage. It was smartly designed to exist as a movie. That's where a lot of these things belong. Anastasia was the one (aside from historical accuracy) with the right elements. There are other live action movies you could adapt or hey, do something original.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Animated_musical_films"

Well in that case well High School Musical is overdue for Broadway. It inspired my love of theatre as a teenager. I would also like to see Descendants with additional songs. Other Disney movies I'm thinking are Moana and Brother Bear

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 10/20/17 at 6:09pm

I know this story is already a (medocire) musical by the Kennedy Center, but what about Chuck Jones’s movie version of The Phantom Tollbooth? 

[BwayLB]

Posted: 10/20/17 at 7:06pm

Hate to go off focus but to answer other people's questions. Finding a girl Thumbelina's size isn't easy but maybe a newcomer would be appropriate casting. And the dragons maybe some puppetry can work for Quest for Camelot. Pebble and the Penguin can have puppetry too. Cats Don't Dance doesn't need it. What the actors need are wigs and not too much makeup to create an anamorphic illusion with the characters. And to write the script Harvey Fierstein or Douglas Carter Beane should do either Cats or Pebble.

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 10/20/17 at 7:11pm

VintageSnarker said: "For non-Disney, one of those Barbie movies could work. Their Princess and the Pauper isn't terrible. I remember someone was working on James and the Giant Peach but I think that's just based on the book."

I know that the fairy movie from Barbie was a national tour. Also yeah, the songwriters of Dear Evan Hansen did JATGP. I love the music to it! 

[BwayLB]

Posted: 10/20/17 at 7:12pm

disneybroadwayfan22 said: "VintageSnarker said: "For non-Disney, one of those Barbie movies could work. Their Princess and the Pauper isn't terrible. I remember someone was working on James and the Giant Peach but I think that's just based on the book."

I know that the fairymovie from Barbie was a national tour. Alsoyeah, the songwriters of Dear Evan Hansen did JATGP. I love the music to it!"

I read somewhere about Pasek and Paul. I've only seen their work in La La Land and Trolls which by the way were equally wonderful movies. Dear Evan Hansen must be that good to be tough getting a ticket.

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 10/20/17 at 8:05pm

BwayLB said: "Hate to go off focus but to answer other people's questions. Finding a girl Thumbelina's size isn't easy but maybe a newcomer would be appropriate casting. And the dragons maybe some puppetry can work for Quest for Camelot. Pebble and the Penguin can have puppetry too. Cats Don't Dance doesn't need it. What the actors need are wigs and not too much makeup to create an anamorphic illusion with the characters. And to write the script Harvey Fierstein or Douglas Carter Beane should do either Cats or Pebble."

Yes but... why? Why would you want to see Pebble and the Penguin with puppets when you could watch the movie?

[BwayLB]

Posted: 10/20/17 at 8:19pm

Just thought it would be cool that's all. Being a 90's baby I might be getting ahead of myself. I mean one idea for Hubie is the actor wearing nerd like clothes glasses to match to fit his personality. And another idea in mine is reimagining the love triangle between him and Drake over Marina like the classic nerd vs. jock over the popular girl.

[Phanma]

Posted: 10/20/17 at 11:36pm

BwayLB said: "Hate to go off focus but to answer other people's questions. Finding a girl Thumbelina's size isn't easy but maybe a newcomer would be appropriate casting. And the dragons maybe some puppetry can work for Quest for Camelot. Pebble and the Penguin can have puppetry too. Cats Don't Dance doesn't need it. What the actors need are wigs and not too much makeup to create an anamorphic illusion with the characters. And to write the script Harvey Fierstein or Douglas Carter Beane should do either Cats or Pebble."

I've given the size issue of Thumbelina some thought.   They could possibly get the effect of her being tiny, with a combination of oversized set pieces and projection. 

 

[BwayLB]

Posted: 10/20/17 at 11:49pm

Phanma said: "BwayLB said: "Hate to go off focus but to answer other people's questions. Finding a girl Thumbelina's size isn't easy but maybe a newcomer would be appropriate casting. And the dragons maybe some puppetry can work for Quest for Camelot. Pebble and the Penguin can have puppetry too. Cats Don't Dance doesn't need it. What the actors need are wigs and not too much makeup to create an anamorphic illusion with the characters. And to write the script Harvey Fierstein or Douglas Carter Beane should do either Cats or Pebble."

I've given the size issue of Thumbelina some thought. They could possibly get the effect ofher being tiny, with a combination ofoversized set pieces and projection.

"

Set pieces makes sense but I'm having trouble picturing projections.

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 10/21/17 at 2:32am

BwayLB said: "Just thought it would be cool that's all. Being a 90's baby I might be getting ahead of myself. I mean one idea for Hubie is the actor wearing nerd like clothes glasses to match to fit his personality. And another idea in mine is reimagining the love triangle between him and Drake over Marina like the classic nerd vs. jock over the popular girl."

I think you're missing my point. Why would you adapt any of these (mostly very difficult to adapt to the stage unless you do a Spongebob thing or use puppets or projections) when there are already perfectly fine and enjoyable movies? What do you gain? 

Also, I'm sorry but that is the worst. I am SO tired of that sexist plot where the woman is a prize to be fought over. No, thank you. And it's not the 80's anymore. "Nerds" are not sympathetic underdogs that desperately need to have their stories told. 

[BwayLB]

Posted: 10/21/17 at 9:09am

Well they can give the movie's cult following a boost. I know they wont be easy to adapt but just thoughts

[ggersten]

Posted: 10/21/17 at 2:24pm

I know onehalf of the screenwriting team for The Pebble and the Penguin - or as that person says "the film without a director".  The person would be happy to learn that people love the film - but, it's not the story they started out telling - and that, of course, is an old Hollywood (or in this case Irish?) story.   

[BwayLB]

Posted: 10/21/17 at 2:53pm

Risky but with a little reimagining to the story. Nothing is impossible