'ໂລກທີ່ແປກປະຫຼາດ' ຂອງ Disney ຕົກຢູ່ໃນໂຮງລະຄອນ, ແຕ່ບໍ່ແມ່ນທັງໝົດທີ່ສູນເສຍໄປສຳລັບອານິເມຊັນ Disney

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Animation’s latest feature film, ໂລກແປກ is the heartwarming story of reconnecting with family, overcoming obstacles, and going on an adventure. Like all Disney animated features, the animation quality is superb, though the movie continues to see a lack of enthusiasm from theater goers.

ໃນ​ຄວາມ​ເປັນ​ຈິງ, ໂລກແປກ is on course to lose at least $100 million during its theatrical run, ອີງ​ຕາມ ຊະນິດ. Part of the loss can be contributed to the ongoing pandemic and financial constraints due to rising costs for everything from gas to food, where there’s not as much extra funds to go and see movies as a family. This is where Disney+, the ບໍລິການສະຕີມ from The Walt Disney Company, has made a huge impact on animated films. Not only has the streaming service allowed more consumers to see the films, the movies have sometimes become instant classics, like in the case of Disney’s ສະ​ເນ່.

Disney and Pixar animated films that underperformed at the theater before being released on Disney’s streaming service Disney+ include Encanta, which grossed $96 million at domestic box office and $230 million at the global box office, ແສງປີ, which grossed $118 million domestically and $218 million worldwide, and Raya ແລະມັງກອນສຸດທ້າຍ, which earned $54 million at the domestic box office and $116 million at the global box office. What sets these movies apart is that all of them were fairly successful after debuting on Disney+.

Disney’s streaming service seems to be a lifeline for animated movies these days. While you likely didn’t go to a theater to see ສະ​ເນ່, your kids have likely been singing “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” on repeat since seeing the movie on Disney+.

ໃນລະຫວ່າງການແຜ່ລະບາດ, former Disney CEO Bob Chapek made the decision to move Disney and Pixar animated films—like ຈິດວິນຍານ, ລູກາ, ແລະ ປ່ຽນເປັນສີແດງ—directly to Disney+ and have no theatrical release. While ປ່ຽນເປັນສີແດງ became a hit with those who grew up in the 90s, ຈິດວິນຍານ ແລະ ລູກາ got less fanfare from Disney’s most loyal moviegoers.

Now that movie theaters are fully open, and Disney fans are ready to see theatrical releases again, animation still seems to be struggling. Kids are more interested in seeing their favorite super heroes, like Black Panther, on the big screen. The latest from Marvel Studios Black Panther: Wakanda ຕະຫຼອດໄປ has grossed $367 million in North America and $675 million at the global box office.

Perhaps, this is more telling of what families want to see in a theater: movies that become a theatrical experience like super hero movies or the upcoming Indiana Jones sequel are more enticing to spend money on because the viewing experience is heightened in a real theater with dozens of other people.

Animated movies, on the other hand are viewed by millions of people everyday at home, and often time the lack of theatrical experience doesn’t seem to make a difference in at-home viewing and seeing all of the details of a movie. In some cases, viewing a movie like ສະ​ເນ່, at home may make it easier for those with kids, who need breaks during longer films or if parents want to skip through scenes they may deem inappropriate for their children.

With Bob Iger returning as CEO of The Walt Disney Company, he may be able to find the ຊອດພິເສດ that brings animated movies from Disney and Pixar back to the pinnacle of what they were before the pandemic— great stories that touched people despite age, race and culture. Whether that means sticking to the idea that animated movies do better on Disney + or having big theatrical debuts with merchandise and limited time engagements at the theme parks with characters from movies has yet to be decided.