Disney’s Beauty and the Beast was a breakthrough film for computer generated 3d images complimenting their classic 2d cell animation. Well now that 3d has improved, Disney plans to Lucas Beauty and the Beast and re-release it with updated effects – in IMAX.
Disney has begun re-rendering in 3D the 1991 Oscar-nominated “Beauty” for a big-screen debut in 2010, bringing Disney’s 3D slate for that year to 11 titles, Disney Studios President Mark Zoradi said at an event in Singapore.
The company also announced a five-picture deal with IMAX, starting with the 2009 release of Robert Zemeckis’ “A Christmas Carol” starring Jim Carrey.
By today’s standards the ballroom scene stands out the most as the clashing of two styles of animation. The 3D ballroom in Beauty and the Beast was staggering in its time and at first viewing you were wow’ed by the awesome visuals that you didn’t care that they don’t fit quite perfectly. Now we have movies that incorporate 3D too well, threatening the jobs of set designers and location scouts, and might offer too much of a clash if they make the ballroom photo real while dancing the 2d cell characters on it. I am sure they will pick a style that works well with the animation.
A theatrical release of this film seems a bit over the top, but you know it will only fuel the sale of the Special Edition dvd with the updated tech in it.
I look forward to seeing how they blend this in and what else might come out in IMAX.
