The special effects house formed by Robert Zemeckis will close next January
"Bob and the entire IMD team successfully built a state of the art studio and produced an amazing film, A Christmas Carol, at a time when the dynamics of the industry are rapidly changing," said Alan Bergman, President of The Walt Disney Studios. "But, given today's economic realities, we need to find alternative ways to bring creative content to audiences and IMD no longer fits into our business model."
"I'm incredibly proud of the talented team that we assembled at IMD and the fantastic work they have accomplished," said Robert Zemeckis, one of the co-founders of ImageMovers Digital.
"Their pride and dedication to making quality movies is evident in everything we have produced."
The Studio is hoping to create a new long-term production deal with Zemeckis and his IMD partners, Jack Rapke and Steve Starkey, which will include the continued development of the Yellow Submarine project.
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Mutant
joke
2 years agoby @zenderFlag
Diaigma
@Vanboy
A big joke :P
@Laberlall
ACC did not earn back it's budget domestically. ACC did not DOUBLE it's budget costs in total World Wide Grossings. Under these conditions and standards, A Christmas Carol is considered a bomb.
Period.
And rightfully so. It was an abomination.
"This is how Dicken's would've envisioned it," my bloody EYE! :P
2 years agoby @diaigmaFlag
Vanboy
Shrek, not Shriek, or is that a joke?
2 years agoby @vanboyFlag
Vanboy
True Narzion, but it's (was) perfect for the genre it's been used for. The Polar Express and A Christmas Carol. It's more appropriate for the kids and light content. Avatar is sensory overloading, realistic imagery, aimed more toward adult consumers. The kids need their CGI also.
Hopefully something gets worked out.
Technological and stylistic diversity is the key to successful cinematic entertainment. I recently heard a pro stock driver say, "We still need Nitrous, and Superchargers. No one wants an ALL Turbo competition, even if it is the cheaper and more popular choice for increased horsepower".
2 years agoby @vanboyFlag
Clockworkcookie
I didn't really like the style of animation this team was betting on (ie, attempting to mimic human beings - uncanny valley anyone?). But still, it seems Disney is SO coward when it comes to betting on something unique.
2 years agoby @clockworkcookieFlag
Mutant
I had forgotten about that, I haven't seen the Shriek trilogy for quite some time. Thanks for correcting me.
In general most of their films are good, but as of late their scripts seem weak.
They should have stuck with Narnia, it would be cool if David Yates and the rest of the Harry Potter directors handled the Narnia series.
2 years agoby @zenderFlag
Johnnyblaze09
Sounds bad just like Disney is controlling all the studios. First I heard of owning Pixar, Marvel then Miramax then changed the distribution company Buena Vista, and now ImageMovers... And it has projects with the best makers like Tim Burton, 10 year contract with Zemeckis and Marvel's, I don't know where the Miramax guys were. So what's plan really Disney? (please correct if I misinformed)
2 years agoby @johnnyblaze09Flag
Laberlall
diaigma - how did carol bomb? http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=christmascarol09.htm reports $323mio internationally with a listed production budget of $200mio. i'm not saying disney didn't lose money with helping build the studio (i suppose that's just part of setting up a new company), but this doesn't seem like a bomb to me. (asking how a company can make $322mio and still not be profitable enough to continue is a completely different question). oh, disney really does suck.
2 years agoby @laberlallFlag
Diaigma
Disney? Honesty? I don't think you can ever combine those words in the same sentence! :P
2 years agoby @diaigmaFlag
slysnide
True Diagma. Too true. It'd be amazing if they were honest about these things once in a while.
2 years agoby @slysnideFlag
Diaigma
Right . . . as if Christmas Carol bombing didn't have anything to do with this decision :P
@Todd89
Shriek is a Dreamworks property, buddy, or did you not pay attention to the production logo at, ooh, the BEGINNING of each of its three films? :P
2 years agoby @diaigmaFlag
Null and Void.
woo hoo!
2 years agoby @soylentgreenFlag
Yahzee
shriek????
2 years agoby @yahzeeFlag
Mutant
I only watch certain films from Disney, Pirates of the Carri-bean and Shriek, everything else is just garbage.
The main reason they got rid of Cook is because these idiots think their better than him.
2 years agoby @zenderFlag
incmob
what a shame, i really enjoyed seeing those films with my son, hopefully another movie company will pick up the pieces with zemeckis.
2 years agoby @incmobFlag
BruceWayneUSA
Disney is foolish to think this was a wise decision.
Now all you're going to be getting out of Disney is more Hannah Montana B.S. and films full of fart jokes headed up by the fool Rich Ross. How can he possibly fill the quality shoes of Dick Cook who had 30 years of experience at Disney?
Disney is going down the tubes my friends and Richie and Iger are at it's helm. Even Pixar isn't safe from their poison. Just look at what the Lasseter has done since his promotion - now we're getting all these sequels from Pixar plus the creation of the Vancouver Pixar Stutio that will be creating direct to DVD films and TV shows. Disney is no longer Disney -- it has passed it's torch to Pixar. Now Pixar is no longer Pixar.
Also, I wouldn't doubt that because of 'Princes and the Frog's' poor performance that Disney closes it's 2D animation dept..... AGAIN!!!
2 years agoby @brucewayneusaFlag
Brainiac
thank god, his movies were pissing me off. hopefully this means he won't be making Roger Rabbit 2
2 years agoby @thebdFlag
Narzion
well, his motion capture technology is bad if you compare it with james cameron's technology
2 years agoby @narzionFlag
07cabrala
that sucks..
2 years agoby @07cabralaFlag
Draktyr
Man....that's too bad. Sorry to see 'em go.
2 years agoby @draktyrFlag
isa98
Thats f*cked up.
2 years agoby @isa98Flag