Tag: Disney

Disney Still Not Making “Song of the South” Available on Disney+ Streaming

When Disney formally introduced their exclusive streaming service Disney+ to the world, they promised to fill it with Disney content. Earlier statements from the company hinted that the platform will render unnecessary the practice of putting movies and series in a Disney vault. If it’s made by Disney or any production company under their umbrella, it will eventually be found in Disney+. That’s the ideal.

But even such grand dreams have limitations. And that limitation applies to decades-old Disney productions that the company deems racially insensitive. That means, again in this newest distribution medium, the 1946 musical “Song of the South” still won’t see re-release.

We already know the story, about how the depiction of Uncle Remus and life in a Southern plantation has since been derided as a false picture hiding the actual inhuman conditions of workers back then. For this reason Disney and its CEOs have held off on “Song of the South” ever seeing a home video release, from VHS to DVDs.

That movie’s not the only one affected. The original 1941 animated film “Dumbo” will have a key scene cut from it before hitting Disney+. Said scene involves the talking anthropomorphic crows led by the (offensively-named) Jim Crow who helps Dumbo learn how to fly. The recent live-action adaptation directed by Tim Burton lacks the crows.

Disney+ is expected to launch on November 12. Those looking for a “Song of the South” fix will have to look for the old “Disney Sing-Along Songs” videos (featuring the immortal “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah”), or ride on Splash Mountain in Disneyland Resort, Disney World and Tokyo Disneyland.

New Reveals from “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” Season 7 Trailer at Star Wars Celebration

True, the trailer for “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” was the crowning glory of all media previews during Star Wars Celebration. But let’s not forget that there were other reveals that were made for new shows and games in the franchise. Some of these series would be among the first to stream on Disney+.

One of them is the never-expected but now-anticipated seventh season of “Star Wars: The Clone Wars.” We already had a taste of what’s to come thanks to an initial teaser, months ago. This time the trailer, shown during Star Wars Celebration, has more story substance.

The trailer airs during the first few seconds of this Star Wars Celebration video stream. Here’re some things we observed:

  1. Montage of the (un-helmeted) Clone Troopers doing drills while the discussion between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda in “Episode II: Attack of the Clones” is heard.
  2. Yoda’s refuting Obi-Wan’s praise of the Clones and remarking “Begun the Clone War has” rings as the Jedi hold funerals for the Knights and Padawans they have lost fighting the Separatists.
  3. Foreshadowing of Anakin Skywalker’s fall when a vision of Darth Vader’s helmet forms behind him.
  4. Darth Sidious dual wields lightsabers. Is this a reworking of the scene from “Episode III: Revenge of the Sith?”
  5. Flashbacks are seen by Yoda to the Anakin-Ahsoka Tahno duo of Knight and Padawan.
  6. Obi-Wan speaks to Qui-Gon Jin’s Force ghost about Anakin’s training.
  7. A new character dual wields twin lightsabers (four blades).
  8. Anakin duels Count Dooku/Darth Sidious and nearly finishes him? Another “Revenge of the Sith” reworking?
  9. Space battle sees Ahsoka in action.
  10. There’s a ritual involving what appear to be other people from Asajj Ventress’ race.
  11. Anakin is dogfighting in the skies over Naboo. Sequences also show him in combat alongside Obi-Wan, then Ahsoka, and finally all alone.
  12. Plenty of action set pieces are previewed as Anakin looks visibly separated from his fellow Jedi.
  13. Yoda faces a vision of a burning giant. Or is it an actual fire creature.
  14. “Ready, Skywalker is, to teach an apprentice,” Yoda says. “To let go of his pupil, a greater challenge it would be.” It seems Anakin is looking to the constant presence of a fellow Jedi at his side to guide him when he is lost. When even his Padawan leaves, he becomes open to darkness.

“Star Wars: The Clone Wars” season 7 from Lucasfilm Animation will premiere on Disney+ streaming.

Disney+ Streaming Service Formally Introduced, Launching November

For the past few months, ever since Disney began dropping hints, we’ve been following all significant updates on Disney+. This is the much-promoted exclusive online streaming service that would carry as much of the Disney media library, plus all-new original content. Despite news of what stuff might be put in it, Disney has kept mum on when Disney+ will launch.

That silence was broken by the House of Mouse this Thursday, April 11. At long last Disney+ has been properly introduced by the media giant’s CEO Bob Iger. From live-action Disney films to the Animated Canon, everything will eventually fit in the platform as the practice of putting past media on a figurative “vault” (storing in between official release and re-releases) is gradually phased out.

And let’s not forget the added productions from Pixar, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm aka “Star Wars” and even TV documentaries like National Geographic. Some new original series that will debut on Disney+ will tie either with the MCU film franchise, or the “Star Wars” Disney canon.

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But what about the subscription service itself? Iger finally gets down to the nitty-gritty on details. A monthly subscription on Disney+ will cost $7. That’s tantamount to “shots fired” against established streaming juggernaut Netflix, which has a $13 monthly plan and a $9 lowest-budget alternative.

The Disney+ service will officially launch on November 12, and will also come in a mobile app version. Disney promises 10 new films and 25 series, all original, within the first year of the streaming platform. It’ll also carry content from Fox, like all seasons of “The Simpsons” just to start. Netflix should start worrying.

List of More Newly Announced Content for Disney+ Streaming

There is still no specific date other than that it’ll be launching this year, so anticipation for the Disney+ exclusive streaming platform is high. We’ve already gotten a peek at what the House of Mouse and its partner studios could pack into that service: more live-action adaptations of animation, MCU and “Star Wars” TV series.

Quite recently a second big batch of upcoming programs has been announced for Disney+. As with the content already announced before, it’s unknown when they will arrive, as they’re likely only under development at present. We’ll provide a list of the new Disney+ stuff, plus brief descriptions of each program. Some titles are still temporary:

  1. Marvel’s Hero Project – spotlight on various youth who do positive acts and make great changes in their community, making them real-life young heroes
  2. Marvel’s 616 – documentary anthology exploring the greater Marvel franchise umbrella, from superhero characters to settings and their creators; to be presented by various filmmakers
  3. Be Our Chef – reality cooking competition where contestant family groups strive to create a winning dish that would actually be added somewhere in the Walt Disney World menu
  4. Earthkeepers – documentary showcase on conservationists and the endangered species they’re observing
  5. Cinema Relics: Iconic Art of the Movies – behind-the-scenes look on production costumes and props from some of the most famous Disney movies
  6. (Re)Connect – reality series wherein families whose members have grown apart are taken to unique experiences in the hope of restoring and strengthening their bonds
  7. Encore! – reality comedy series with Kristen Bell as executive producer, that follows the now-adult production members of a high school musical, who are challenged to do their production all over again
  8. Rogue Trip – travelogue hosted by father-son tandem Bob and Mack Woodruff; their itinerary is described as the “overlooked” corners of the world
  9. Shop Class – reality competition with student teams working to create new gadgets through the three-stage process of design, assembly and testing
  10. Walt Disney Imagineering Documentary Series – an exploration of Disney theme parks focusing on the work of the Imagineering division, in celebration of their over 60 years of incredible work