Why doesn't Warner Bros Flaunt like Disney does?

[brickrrb2]

Because not doing so is getting them overshadowed

[Silverstar]

I don't understand the question. Why doesn't WB flaunt what like Disney, exactly? And who is overshadowing them in what department?

[MadMan400096]

I think I get where he's going, Silverstar. He wants to know why WB doesn't put their 90s shows upfront like Disney does. In that case. I think he's got in reverse. It's Disney that isn't "flaunting" like WB. The latter has much more of their 90s output on TV, while Disney seems really stingy about theirs.

But that's just a theory. The way he's talking makes it very muddled and oblique.

[Daikun]

WB doesn't flaunt because they don't have a reason to. They don't make animated theatrical films anymore.

[coldglynx]

They don't make animated theatrical films anymore.

Thats one thing I don't understand about WB. Is the fact that they aren't in the game when it comes to animated films. Considering the number of animated properties they have under their roof. From the Looney Tunes of course, to Hanna Barbera, MGM, Cartoon Network, DC, etc.

Yet the best they come up with was Yogi Bear. Which technically wasn't a animated film. But obviously the character was. The sad thing was even though that movie was crap. It made a profit at the box office. Which shows that even today Hanna Barbera characters still resonates with people. Yet it still looks like WB doesn't realize that Animation is doing big business. Oh well.

[J. B. Warner]

Thats one thing I don't understand about WB. Is the fact that they aren't in the game when it comes to animated films. Considering the number of animated properties they have under their roof. From the Looney Tunes of course, to Hanna Barbera, MGM, Cartoon Network, DC, etc.

Well, Warner Bros. used to do hand-drawn theatrical animated films. And out of the six they did, five of them were box-office disasters. I think Looney Tunes: Back in Action lost something like eighty million dollars and briefly held the record for the biggest animated box office flop in cinematic history. It sucks, but from a business standpoint, I can totally understand why they quit.

[coldglynx]

Well, Warner Bros. used to do hand-drawn theatrical animated films. And out of the six they did, five of them were box-office disasters. I think Looney Tunes: Back in Action lost something like eighty million dollars and briefly held the record for the biggest animated box office flop in cinematic history. It sucks, but from a business standpoint, I can totally understand why they quit.

True but that was a different time. Animation was losing steam even Disney movies weren't doing so hot. Its not like how it is now.

And seriously with the exception "Batman Mask of the Phantasm" and "The Iron Giant" did you actually think the movies they released at the time were worth watching?

[Classic Speedy]

Cats Don't Dance was pretty good...

[coldglynx]

Cats Don't Dance was pretty good...

Eh! it was ok.

[brickrrb2]

Well Why don't they do any Looney tunes DTV movies like they do with Tom and Jerry and Scooby Doo?

[Silverstar]

Well Why don't they do any Looney tunes DTV movies like they do with Tom and Jerry and Scooby Doo?

Personally, I'd rather get new Looney Tunes shorts than feature-length DTVs. The Looney Tunes don't really lend themselves to extended storylines.

[coldglynx]

Personally, I'd rather get new Looney Tunes shorts than feature-length DTVs. The Looney Tunes don't really lend themselves to extended storylines.

I disagree, I think the Looney Tunes can work in extended storylines. If it was done right. Problem is getting the right people to work on it. Which at this point is no where to be found at Warner Bros. The only thing Looney Tune related that I enjoyed at Warner Bros and truly captured the spirit of Looney Tunes was Tiny Toons. Everything else since then have failed to capture the spirit of The Looney Tunes( yes that includes Space Jam).

Closest animation company at the moment that reminds me of Warner Bros Golden age era is Dreamworks Animation. I think it would have been a perfect match if the talent at Dreamworks worked on a Looney Tunes film . Too bad Dreamworks Animation just signed with Fox. I thougt Dreamworks Animation could have done for Warners what Pixar at the moment is currently doing for Disney. Oh well I guess its not meant to be.

[Classic Speedy]

Everything else since then have failed to capture the spirit of The Looney Tunes( yes that includes Space Jam).

I re-watched Space Jam recently and don't think it held up well at all. The whole thing felt like one long soulless commercial, and the Looney Tunes didn't really act like themselves outside of the very basic archetypes/catchphrases. You know you're in trouble when Bill Murray and Wayne Knight (who both play relatively minor roles) are funnier than the cartoon characters who have most of the screen time. I also don't think the 2D/live action combinations were that convincing. I don't know why, but Roger Rabbit was really the only movie to get it right.

Admittedly it has a unique premise, and some of the drawings were amusing, but that's about it.

[Zen Man]

Personally I would like to see WB start throwing more support behind other H-B franchises (ex. Yogi, Flintstones, Jonny Quest). I mean I enjoy Scooby-Doo like most people do, but it's gottan kinda depressing with just him sitting at the top of the H-B mountain. One of the strength's of Hanna-Barbera was their ability to focus on putting most of their top characters in new concepts/stories; usually simultaneously. I would like to see Warner Bros. attempt to do that as I feel they're missing out on potential money and ideas. Not saying they haven't tried, but they're constantly relting on the Looney Tunes/Scooby-Doo/Tom & Jerry/ DC Superheroes formula. And I know this is a bit of a stretch, but I'd also like to see at least a Tiny Toons or Animaniacs DTV movie; just for old times sake. lol

[coldglynx]

I re-watched Space Jam recently and don't think it held up well at all. The whole thing felt like one long soulless commercial, and the Looney Tunes didn't really act like themselves outside of the very basic archetypes/catchphrases. You know you're in trouble when Bill Murray and Wayne Knight (who both play relatively minor roles) are funnier than the cartoon characters who have most of the screen time. I also don't think the 2D/live action combinations were that convincing.

I agree it hasn't held up well. I still find it kind of enjoyable as a time killer. But thats about it.

I don't know why, but Roger Rabbit was really the only movie to get it right.

Oh come on, it should be obvious why. Look at the people who worked on it. Jeffrey Katzenberg threw everything, even the kithchen sink at the film. Getting Robert Zemeckis(fresh of Romancing the Stone, and Back to the Future)f to direct, having his top animators at Disney work on the film like Don Hahn and Andres Deja, He even brought in legendary animator Richard Williams to work on the film. and it obviously didn't hurt having Steven Spielberg around as well.

Compare that to the people who worked on Space Jam. Even though I know the director "Joe Pytka" personally. He makes great tv commercials. But a animated feature length film his first btw. I don't think so.

[ToonEGuy]

Personally I would like to see WB start throwing more support behind other H-B franchises (ex. Yogi, Flintstones, Jonny Quest). I mean I enjoy Scooby-Doo like most people do, but it's gottan kinda depressing with just him sitting at the top of the H-B mountain. One of the strength's of Hanna-Barbera was their ability to focus on putting most of their top characters in new concepts/stories; usually simultaneously. I would like to see Warner Bros. attempt to do that as I feel they're missing out on potential money and ideas. Not saying they haven't tried, but they're constantly relting on the Looney Tunes/Scooby-Doo/Tom & Jerry/ DC Superheroes formula. And I know this is a bit of a stretch, but I'd also like to see at least a Tiny Toons or Animaniacs DTV movie; just for old times sake. lol

Unfortunately, Steven Spielberg seems to have very little to do with cartoons anymore that I'm aware of, since the very last "Steven Spielberg Presents" cartoon I can really remember is like Pinky, Elmyra & the Brain. Too bad, cause I'm sure I would like new cartoons more if there was some more shows in the vein of Tiny Toons and Animaniacs. I also agree on Hanna-Barbera. I did like Scooby-Doo at one point, but seriously, there's been more movies and spin-offs for this series than I can even name, which is why I take more interest in Flintstones, Jetsons, and Yogi Bear instead. These characters were big H-B names just as much early on, but now their spotlight is mostly hogged by Scooby, so I guess I just take more pity on their more neglected iconic stars.

And yeah, Warner Bros. doesn't seem to stand out quite as much to me now as they did in the 90's, even when they still have properties like Looney Tunes, Cartoon Network, and DC Comics. It's Disney and DreamWorks that really stand out the most now, but in the 90's Warner Bros. was pretty much more equal to Disney in my opinion.

[brickrrb2]

From what I understand Spielberg had little to do anyway, Timm and Dini were the real miraicle workers

[ToonEGuy]

From what I understand Spielberg had little to do anyway, Timm and Dini were the real miraicle workers

Well I guess I mean in the sense that you no longer see any animation associated with his name.

[coldglynx]

Unfortunately, Steven Spielberg seems to have very little to do with cartoons anymore that I'm aware of, since the very last "Steven Spielberg Presents" cartoon I can really remember is like Pinky, Elmyra & the Brain. Too bad, cause I'm sure I would like new cartoons more if there was some more shows in the vein of Tiny Toons and Animaniacs. I also agree on Hanna-Barbera. I did like Scooby-Doo at one point, but seriously, there's been more movies and spin-offs for this series than I can even name, which is why I take more interest in Flintstones, Jetsons, and Yogi Bear instead. These characters were big H-B names just as much early on, but now their spotlight is mostly hogged by Scooby, so I guess I just take more pity on their more neglected iconic stars.

Well if you count the "Transformers" movies which were pretty much cartoons.

With Yogi Bear becoming a surprise box office hit and Seth Mcfarlane working on the new Flinstones. Maybe Warner Bros will start have some interest. I just wish they would actually try to make good films. Yogi Bear was an abomination. The movie felt like WB taking a dump on the legacy of Hanna Barbera.

And yeah, Warner Bros. doesn't seem to stand out quite as much to me now as they did in the 90's, even when they still have properties like Looney Tunes, Cartoon Network, and DC Comics. It's Disney and DreamWorks that really stand out the most now, but in the 90's Warner Bros. was pretty much more equal to Disney in my opinion.

Their TV department was equal to Disney. Their movies not so much. Don Bluth was more of a competition in the film department.

From what I understand Spielberg had little to do anyway, Timm and Dini were the real miraicle workers

Timm and Dini did work on those cartoons. But the creative force behind them was Tom Ruegger. Who was the creator and head writer of Tiny Toons, and Animaniacs. Not to mention Pinky and The Brian, Road Rovers, and the highly underrated Histeria! He also collaborated with Timm and Dini on Freakazoid! and did some writing on Batman TAS. But his strenght was obviously comedy. As you can tell looking at his work. Its a shame he's not working with WB anymore or a big time animation company. He's obviously a one of kind talent.

[ToonEGuy]

With Yogi Bear becoming a surprise box office hit and Seth Mcfarlane working on the new Flinstones. Maybe Warner Bros will start have some interest. I just wish they would actually try to make good films. Yogi Bear was an abomination. The movie felt like WB taking a dump on the legacy of Hanna Barbera.

Except I personally wouldn't like to see a Flintstones cartoon from Seth MacFarlane, so hearing that it was now on life support wasn't really a problem for me. Not that I wouldn't like to see more of Fred & Barney than Scooby & Shaggy.