Clip: The Princess and The Frog

I was a kid during the late 80s and early 90s, and while I caught the very beginnings of Pixar, my childhood was dominated by movies such as Aladdin, The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast. With fond memories in mind, watching the first five minutes of their newest 2-D animated film, The Princess and the Frog, recently by Disney on YouTube, brought all those feelings rushing back. I am hardly a sentimentalist, but it seems as though Disney has finally stopped trying to placate to today’s youth and is simply returning to its routes. It is all there: the magical realism, the cute characters and the uplifting messages. If the rest of the film is anything like the first five minutes, Disney might have another one to add to the classics collection. Enjoy the videos after the jump.

Be warned: the video is split into two parts and not all of the animation has been completed yet (some just missing color, some looking like a flip-book), but it is all watchable.

Disney and Universal Pick New Chairmen

Disney Studios stayed in the news yesterday as the Mouse House officially named Rich Ross as the replacement for former Disney chairman Dick Cook. The move had been somewhat expected as the head of Disney Channels Worldwide emerged as the favorite shortly after Cook left the company.

According to Variety, Ross has been largely responsible for Disney’s branding efforts over the last five years, and is likely to focus on building franchises that can not only become tentpoles at the box office but transfer to other media. Ross will be in charge of the company’s live-action and animated feature labels, including Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone, Miramax, Marvel Entertainment and Pixar. Ross will also oversee its music group and theater productions including Broadway and tours like High School Musical and Disney on Ice.

Disney Comes To Its Senses On Anne Frank Film

In a move that surprises no one, Disney has decided that David Mamet’s take on The Diary of Anne Frank is “too dark” and unfriendly for the studio. We were as surprised as anyone when the announcement was made that the profane writer/director behind Glengarry Glen Ross was handed the sensitive story of the holocaust in the first place, but after a look at where the movie was going, Disney quickly put the project in turnaround a month after it was announced.

Poster: Disney’s The Princess and the Frog

Disney‘s long awaited return to hand drawn animation The Princess and The Frog, seems to have been in the works forever but will finally hit theaters this winter. Set in New Orleans, Disney’s latest princess Tiana, a beautiful African-American woman living in the French Quarter is thrust into a world of adventure and romance in another epic tale. Joining the cast are Anika Noni Rose as Tiana, John Goodman, Terrence Howard and the queen of the world Oprah Winfrey. Directed by John Musker and Ron Clements who helmed Aladdin and The Little Mermaid, the film will also feature the music of Randy Newman of Toy Story. Full poster and trailer after the jump.

Universal Shuts Down Development Until 2010

In another sign of the times according to Variety, Universal Pictures has announced that they will not spend any more money to advance development of projects for the rest of the year. This shuts down any films that haven’t been given the green light or those that are being fast tracked until at least 2010. Now why couldn’t they do this before they released Love Happens?

Dick Cook Out At Disney, Could Johnny Depp Follow?

After a relatively quiet week in Hollywood, Disney dropped a bombshell Friday night as they announced Dick Cook was out as their chairman. The official company line maintains that Cook left the company as reported by THR, meanwhile Nikki Finke and others are reporting that the former chairman was forced out by President and CEO Bob Iger. I’m more inclined to believe Cook was fired, but this move is arguably more important for the impact it may have on Johnny Depp’s future in Pirates of the Caribbean as well as Pixar and Marvel entertainment.

Watch It!: What’s Going To Happen To Marvel?

YouTube user ItsJustSomeRandomGuy has put up another winner with Marvel/DC: Disney Buys Marvel (Parody). As geeks worldwide now know, Marvel was purchased by Disney in an epic $4 billion deal that shocked the world two weeks ago. In its wake, however, fans have been left asking, “what does this mean for future comic-book movies?” There are, of course, two possibilities, but I won’t spoil the video. Be sure to watch the whole thing to catch the amazing Batman/Spider-Man conversation at the end. So wise.

Johnny Depp Confirmed For ‘Pirates’ 4

As part of Disney’s D23 fan convention, Johnny Depp came onstage to announce the fourth Pirates of the Caribbean movie subtitled On Stranger Tides. No plot details were revealed and the film still needs a director as Gore Verbinski who directed the first three films in the series and was originally on-board for a fourth, left the project for the Bioshock movie which has since switched to another director. Disney has hoped that this will be the first in a second trilogy featuring Capt. Jack Sparrow, Something to keep an eye on as it starts rolling.

Timothy Dalton Joins Toy Story 3

Toy Story 3 just got even better with the addition of the always entertaining Timothy Dalton to the cast. Let’s be honest, most of us had at least one toy that we gave a fancy British accent (or just me?) and Dalton fills that sorely needed role just splendidly, and I can only hope he does so with a monocle.

Warner Bros. Restructures DC Comics

It seems like it’s been a comic-centric week here at Geek on Film, but fresh off a record breaking summer at the box office largely fueled by comic properties, studio heads are making them a top priority.

Deadline.com is reporting that Warner Bros Pictures Group president Jeff Robinov fresh off having his contract re-upped, will be taking direct control of D.C. comics along with Diane Nelson, who runs the management of the Harry Potter film franchise.