The first “Cars Toon” premiered on Toon Disney today. I enjoyed “Rescue Squad Mater” and look forward to the next two installments that premiere tomorrow and the day after. (At 6:57 ET/PT). I have no doubt that Disney will do everything in their power to keep the Cars franchise alive as they rev up to Cars 2 which premieres in 2011 and with the Cars virtual world and Cars Land at DCA being under development as we speak. But there is another franchise that I was thinking about as I watched Toon Disney this evening.
While I was waiting for the short, Toon Disney was airing the Haunted Mansion film. Now this film is not a cartoon. Despite being about the dead, it is very much live-action. Toon Disney also aired promos for their upcoming Power Rangers Jungle Fury marathon. Once again, that show is not a cartoon. Now why did Toon Disney go the way of other cable networks such as MTV which doesn’t air music, ESPN Classic which airs live events, and A&E which doesn’t air arts.
Toon Disney was launched in 1998 as a way for Disney to capitalize on their growing television animation library which grew under the Disney Afternoon programing block. But the demand for ten year old cartoons is small, so Disney started to transition the channel to focusing on boys that allude the girl-centric Disney Channel. The most obvious move to cater to boys was when Toon Disney adopted the Jetix brand, which was founded after the Fox Family acquasition, for an ever-growing block of their programing.
Soon Toon Disney will no longer be a misnomer. In February, Toon Disney will become Disney XD and will be the male alternative to the Disney Channel (not that there won’t be any gender crossover). What better way to start the transition by supporting Disney’s hotest franchise for boys which also happens to be a cartoon. But don’t worry. Disney’s other cable networks will get a little Cars love too. Disney Channel will present all three shorts throughout the day on Saturday, November 1. ABC Family will present the shorts beginning Tuesday, December 23 during the network's annual 25 Days of Christmas programming event. But I think this might have to do more with getting the Cars Toons more exposure than giving folks reasons to watch Disney Channel or ABC Family. I mean, who watches Toon Disney?
Quick Takes:
Parks and Resorts: Former Disney executive, Lee Cockerell will be signing his book, Creating Magic — 10 Common Sense Leadership Strategies from a Life at Disney, at the Writer’s Stop in Disney’s Hollywood Studios on Friday, November 21 from 3-4 p.m. Look for my review of the book coming soon.
Disney Interactive Media: Disney Online is promoting the release of Tinker Bell on DVD through two programs. The first six minutes of the film will be available on Disney.com’s new full-screen video player. Also, in the new virtual world of Pixie Hollow, fairies can seek out Tinker Bell’s arrival party and even have the chance to talk to Tink herself. I have a feeling by the time the fourth film comes out, I am going to be all fairied-out.
Consumer Products: Here is a product you might not be aware of; Disney English. Disney Consumer Products recently opened the first Disney English Center in Shanghai. The center teaches its students English through the use of technology and the magic of Disney. English language learning is a huge growth market in China which is the largest private English eductation sector in the world. Now one of Disney’s challenges in the Chinese market is introducing the Disney characters. If kids are learning the characters as they learn English, the odds are they will develop an affinity for Mickey and his friends for the rest of their life. This could be a huge win for Disney that extends beyond their schools. Now if only I could have Disney Spanish, I might be able to finally learn the language.
Studio Entertainment: I told you it was going to be big. High School Musical 3 made $42 million in the domestic box office and $40 million internationally. This is the biggest opening for a musical for both the domestic and international markets. I know….I called it.
What to Watch: The next Cars Toon is “Mater the Greater” which features Mater as a world-famous daredevil. I am a daredevil as well. I still fly Star Tours even though every time I do, something goes terribly wrong. You would think I would learn. What can I say, I am an adrenaline junkie.
Video of the Day: Watch the cast of High School Musical, along with future Disney Legend Kenny Ortega, talk about how everything is bigger in the latest installment. Of course this also includes the admission price. As a friend of mine once told me, it is always best when it is free.
News from Around the Web:
ABC News: Dancing with the Stars professional dancer, Julianne Hough ,will have her appendix removed. Before you discard this story, her partner is Disney Channel star Cody Linley. But don’t fret, if he isn’t eliminated this week he will be partnered with Edyta Sliwinska who was kicked off the first week along with her partner comedian Jeffrey Ross. Phew. I was afraid I wasn’t going to be able to sleep tonight.
NY Times: The New York Times is reporting that studios are pushing box office winners as Oscar contenders. This includes Disney trying to get Wall-E a Best Picture nod. To quote Dick Cook, ““If we didn’t do it, I don’t think we’d be giving the movie its due”. Now this could be a win-win as Disney might not only get a historical Oscar nomination, but if successful films are nominated, Disney’s ABC could score better ratings for its telecast. Last year’s broadcast was a record low as a bunch of films no one cared about were up for honors. Fun fact: Disney has won 3 of the last 10 Best Picture awards.
USA Today: USA Today reports that more Americans fear going down in a plane crash or being bitten by a spider than getting diagnosed with diabetes. But what I find more interesting, is that USA Today includes a picture of my favorite diabetic, Nick Jonas. How many other folks have written songs about diabetes?
LA Times: Save Disney ally CalPERS is relying on bear market lessons to get through the economic downturn. The California Public Emplyees Retirement System has lost $54 billion or 23%. But if anyone can weather the storm it is CalPERS. They have proven they know how to judge managment when they support Roy Disney and his effort to remove Michael Eisner.
Orlando Sentinel: Orlando Sentinel reports that Disney’s employee clinic is like no other. The Walt Disney World Center for Living Well is designed to be a one-stop health destination for the cast of the Walt Disney World Resort. The center has unique features such as a background rumble to protect privacy and nature-art murals complete with hidden Mickeys as well as the typical medical features such as primary-care doctors and nurses, urgent care, lab facilities, digital-radiology services, a full-service pharmacy, and behavioral-health services. I support any thing the is a benefit to the magic makers at Disney. And most importantly, I wish all of the Cast the best of health.
Variety: I feel betrayed. The Jonas Brothers have signed with FOX to star in “Walter the Farting Dog”. Yeah, I know. The film stars Nick, Kevin, and Joe, as well as their younger brother Frankie. Et tu Jonas Brothers? Did you really need to leave Disney to make a film about a flatulant dog with Fox. Right now, I would rather listen to the tooting dog’s next CD than yours. Luckily, the trash can is still under an exclusive contract with Disney, so the Jonas Brothers will be without the true star.