I’ve already seen topics discussing certain rip-offs on Pixar features (and feel free to do so here), but let’s discuss a few of the others too shall we? Actually seen any? Give some names out? Were any… actually GOOD?
In any case, (with Disney at least), the vast majority of their films are adaptations of an original fairy tale (which no doubt has it’s other and older versions and adaptations of a much older tale), so in this way, people deciding to make a quick buck on Disney’s popularity can do so quite easily without fear- Disney more or less produces AU fanfic in movie form in a way in any case.
Even with Pixar of course, even though they generally start from scratch, nothing exists in a vacuum, and of course people will have gained inspiration from both their own lives as well as other works already in existence (whether conciously or not).
But then of course there are people with next to no shame in this and blatently rip them off.
This week for instance I was in HMV and I decided to finally buy Fung Fu Panda. There I also happened upon two baltent rips on Disney features ‘The Frog Princess’ and ‘Tangled Up’. Their intensions were pretty clear to me and even had certain similarities to the more recent Disney versions. I remember at first being exceedingly confused at the ‘Tangled up’ one as I picked it up to look at it, thinking it was the exact same movie even though it hadn’t been released in the UK in cinemas even and there were no characters- just hair from the tower which looked precisely like the hair in the movie.
In any case the latter could possibly fool a few people.
These are not adaptations or parodies (affectionate or otherwise) or merely stories inspired from a variety of sources, they’re a way to fool people or ride on for a fast buck.
I admit though I haven’t seen them but the cover art of the DVDs is pretty blatent- even though you’d have to be blind to possibly mistake the Frog Princess for the Disney equivilant, considering it looks computer animated almost.
So any one seen any? With full knowledge of what they were going to get or not? I have morbid curiosity almost and feel tempted to see the Tangled Up one.
I think theres a fine line. Any animation company could make a video about The Little Mermaid, Snow White, Tarzan, Atlantis etc. etc. because they’re not original stories. The Pixar ones are, of course, a lot more blantant:
It amazes me how people get themselves conned, looking at that Amazon link, surely a quick glance of the feedback page would tell you something.
Having said that, I remember my grandma getting me a Tarzan Of The Apes video, blantantly thinking it was the Disney film because I’d just gone to see it and obviously liked it.
[url]- YouTube
Oh and finding this made me giggle: [url]http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0218589/[/url] IncredigirlVirginia - This one? [url]- YouTube
definedancing: I love that Tarzan link! It came out the same year as the original. What’s up with all the British Janes (in the Disney version and this one). She was American in the books! anyways, Kala in Kerchak look more Chimpanzee in this version than Gorilla…
Now this presents a problem as it’s arguably the “best” quality of animation and story yet seen in a Video Brinquedo release (yes, I actually used “quality” and “Video Brinquedo” in the same sentence). It is still unquestionably not good, but it’s also not REALLY bad like Ratatoing et al. It looks like someone who actually draws fairly well did the backgrounds if not the character design. And, although the dialogue rambles, there is often enough of a point to it that it can occasionally hold an adult viewer’s attention for more than a few seconds.
Actually, I like this little exchange:
King: Did you enjoy a good night’s sleep?
Princess: [yawn] I wasn’t able to sleep much. [yawn] I’m exhausted.
King: The night contains many distractions if you’re not careful.
Princess: I don’t know what distractions you mean, Father…
Yikes! So yes it’s lowballed, and yes it’s a Disney rip-off…but it’s not so horribly bad in a way that makes one wonder why they didn’t funnel whatever energies and abilities they could muster into an original project. The answer is, of course, that they’re trying to hustle the unsuspecting consumer for quick cash. That’s what makes the whole thing so detestable, IMO, not the low quality. But maybe one day Video Brinquedo will surprise everyone and offer an original piece of animation that will be not so awful.
Meanwhile, stay tuned for Carnival in Rio, a prediction for Video Brinquedo’s next clever homage.
Oh god, when I saw this thread I thought it was just going to be discussing Dreamwork’s rips off of Pixar but I never expected these! Ratatoing looks horrific. Although I have the urge to suggest that be one of the films for Movie Night just so we can see as a group how bad it actually is.
I’ve had the “pleasure”, if you like, to watch Ratatoing. It was…amusing. Awful, but amusing. I think my 6 year old cousin could write better dialogue. It’s horrendously dubbed. The animation looks worse than some of my Dreamcast games I had when I was about 5. Some of the scenes are dragged out for as long as physically possible.
I wasn’t initially huge on Ratatouille, but I’ve been getting really into it these past few days, so now my anger-and amusment-for this film has trebled since the initial viewing. Fail.
I watched Ratatooing on Youtube last Christmas holiday. It was mind-numbingly draggy at parts- it’s like the scriptwriters felt the need for the characters to explain who they are, and what they’re doing, and what’s the plan, all through lengthy dialogue expositions. Though there are gems of unintentional comedy during the ‘heist scenes’. I love the cat’s animation in a ‘so bad it’s good’ sort of way.
Worth a watch once in a lifetime, but you’ll never feel like seeing it again. Well, okay. Maybe the heist scenes. God, when they put on their outfits Mission-Impossible style, that was hilarious.
I’ve seen What’s Up and parts of Ratatoing. What’s Up is more like Monsters vs. Aliens than Up, but it was still awful. One of the worst experiences of my life. Ratatoing I found funny because I only saw small pieces of it. I’m sure the full thing would make me fall asleep.
How could you, e-j-e? Is there a Purple Art decoration for incurring serious brain injury while in service to animation? And isn’t The Frog Prince the best thing you’ve ever seen come out of Video Brinquedo? Do I owe you big time for leading you into the path of blandness? Is that enough questions for one post?
Though there are gems of unintentional comedy during the ‘heist scenes’. I love the cat’s animation in a ‘so bad it’s good’ sort of way. 
