Don’t let the picture fool you, according to FirstShowing.net, the powers that be over at Disney have renamed their upcoming animated feature from RAPUNZEL to TANGLED. In this film Disney returns to their foray into 3D but with a very 2d, painterly design aesthetic spearheaded by animation maestro Glen Keane. Unfortunately , Keane and Dean Wellins, who were called on board to develop and direct had to step down from that position in October of 08. Byron Howard and Nathan Greno of BOLT stepped in to see the film to completion.
According to Blue Sky Disney, the name change was warranted by a new look at marketing. Disney is not lightly going to give up the extremely lucrative “Princess”, but don’t want to lose viewers do to hyped “girlie-ness.”
They (meaning the execs and John Lasseter and so on) think that boys don’t want to go see “girlie” movies and Rapunzel is instantly perceived as female because it’s a story about a girl with the long hair. So by changing the name they give it some new life. Apparently it’s not that girlie of a story either, so boys will still enjoy it. Other title considerations include the original Unbraided and The Thief in the Tower, too.
No matter what the name, TANGLED seems to be shaping up as beautifully rich and lavish film. We will see if the story stands up to the hype or if the story just lives up to its name.
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