The Troubled History of Disney's Animated Film: The Black Cauldron

TLDRThe Black Cauldron, one of Disney's animated films with a troubled history, faced behind-the-scenes drama and chaotic production. The film was based on Lord Alexander's The Chronicles of Prydain series and was meant to showcase Disney's innovation. However, tensions arose among different generations of Disney animators, leading to directors being replaced and conflicts over story direction and character designs.

Key insights

🎥The Black Cauldron had a troubled production due to tensions among different generations of Disney animators.

📚The film was based on Lord Alexander's The Chronicles of Prydain series, and Disney president Ron Miller saw potential in adapting it.

🎨The film aimed to push the boundaries of Disney animation and featured unique character designs by artists like Tim Burton.

💥Don Bluth, a prominent animator, left Disney with a group of animators to start his own studio, causing delays and setbacks in production.

⚙️The Black Cauldron was filmed in 70mm, a format not used since Sleeping Beauty, to capture the epic scale of the story.

Q&A

What was the inspiration for The Black Cauldron?

The Black Cauldron was based on Lord Alexander's The Chronicles of Prydain series, which drew from Welsh mythology and fantasy elements.

What caused tension among the Disney animators?

Tensions arose among different generations of Disney animators, with conflicts over story direction, character designs, and a perceived lack of innovation in Disney's animated films.

Who left Disney to start their own animation studio?

Don Bluth, a prominent animator, left Disney with a group of animators to start his own studio, causing delays and setbacks in the production of The Black Cauldron.

What format was The Black Cauldron filmed in?

The Black Cauldron was filmed in 70mm, a format not used since Sleeping Beauty, to capture the epic scale of the story.

Was The Black Cauldron a successful film?

The Black Cauldron faced production challenges and mixed reception upon its release, resulting in underwhelming box office performance.

Timestamped Summary

00:04The Black Cauldron has a troubled history with behind-the-scenes drama and chaotic production.

06:40Disney president Ron Miller saw potential in adapting Lord Alexander's The Chronicles of Prydain series for an animated film.

06:52Animator Don Bluth and a group of animators left Disney, causing delays and setbacks in the production of The Black Cauldron.

09:10Tim Burton, a young artist at the time, contributed unique character designs to The Black Cauldron.

09:27Tensions arose among different generations of Disney animators, leading to conflicts over story direction and character designs.

10:12Art Stevens was replaced as the film's producer, and Joe Hale took over to manage the production.

10:20The Black Cauldron was filmed in 70mm to capture the epic scale of the story, a format not used since Sleeping Beauty.