“Motion Capture” going to Disney
Robert Zemeckis is leaving Dreamworks and might strengthen the Disney/PIXAR team. It looks like he will take his ImageMovers production company to Disney and sign a multi-year deal with The Walt Disney Company’s Disney Pixar Animation department. Robert Zemeckis is not new to animation. He made Polar Express, where they used the Motion Capture technique to bring live actors in to do the movements which then are transformed into the animation. Robert is rumored saying not to be too happy with Dreamworks who has not been involved in his Motion Caption movies. (Polar Express was released with the Warner Label and his latest project, Monster House, was released by Sony)
So badly did the lack of deal-making at DreamWorks strain his relationship with DreamWorks Animation chief Jeffrey Katzenberg, that Zemeckis tried to decamp four years ago for Warner Bros. At the last minute, Spielberg himself called Zemeckis, beseeching him not to leave, and promising that things would be different. (TMZ.com)
So it never worked out, even when Spielberg asked him to stay four years ago. Robert Zemeckis did proof himself being a key player in the animation sector. He brought Motion Capture to live and proofed that movies don’t have to cost way over $100 million to be good. Monster House has a price tag of $75 million, something that will be liked at Disney.
Insiders say that under the terms of the new ImageMovers pact, Lasseter will consult on all ImageMovers productions, leaving the studio to get “Pixar”-like product without meddling with Pixar’s sacrosanct corporate culture. With the move, Disney is clearly aiming to own all areas of animation once again: With Pixar, 3D animation. With Disney Feature Animation, 2D. (As Animation Magazine recently reported, “During a panel at Comic-Con, director Eric Goldberg (”Pocahontas”) mentioned that Disney is developing a 2D feature titled, “The Frog Princess.”) And now, with its new friend Robert Zemeckis, the goal is clearly to own the more-economical motion capture space, too.( TMZ.com)
I have always enjoyed Robert Zemeckis work and I am looking forwards to see this work continue at Disney/PIXAR where he, hopefully, will be able to create more great movies.
August 8th, 2006 at 1:06 pm
Don’t forget he also directed “Who framed Roger Rabit”, which was/ still is breathtaking in it’s quality. Het had the style not to do a sequel. I think he’s great. I still love his Back to the Future movies.