Chairman of Universal Pictures:

[all that jazz]

This could be Universal's biggest success yet, I don't think they'll rely on unknown actresses for the leading roles. They will most likely be mega pop stars which actually, as long as they can sing, wouldn't bother me at all. I can see Lady Gaga as Elphaba.

[Scarywarhol]

The biggest and best film musicals of the last fifty years were animated.

[Auggie27]

How about without songs, like LADY IN THE DARK with Ginger Rogers? That's what OZ looks like: WICKED without the songs.

[all that jazz]

Yes some of the most successful musicals of the past 30 years have been animated, and do we value then as masterpieces?? No. Did they produce any stars? No. Do the actors give award winning performances?? No.

And Auggie27, the most powerful thing in Wicked is the music, without it it would just be another wizard of oz movie.

[Auggie27]

I was being facetious.

[all that jazz]

Sorry Aggie, with some of the posts I've read on this boards, yours seemed perfectly honnest.

[Jordan Catalano]

"Yes some of the most successful musicals of the past 30 years have been animated, and do we value then as masterpieces?? No. Did they produce any stars? No. Do the actors give award winning performances?? No."


First off, several Disney musicals in the past 30 years are most definitely considered "Masterpieces". Why would an animated movie have to produce stars? Is that the point of them? Is that what you see the point of the WICKED movie being? Do they have to win a lot of awards for them to be good movies? Do only "masterpieces" win awards? Because I can think of a hell of a lot of "masterpieces" where nobody was given any sort of an award.

I think you're a little too attached to the musical of the green girl. Maybe you should just take a step back and let the movie be made (in the next 4 years or so) before you work yourself up in a tizzy about it. Because unless you're working on that film - It's gonna be what it's gonna be.

[Kad]

"Yes some of the most successful musicals of the past 30 years have been animated, and do we value then as masterpieces?? No."

Yeah, no.

Wicked would lend itself very well to animation. And it would probably make more money and a lovelier film for it.

Live action runs the risk of embracing the green screen to death. It's a fantastical world and no filmmaker is willing to make a fantastical world by hand anymore.

That's probably what will happen, though. It's easier. It has precedent for success.

But pooh-poohing an animated film is ridiculous.

[Jordan Catalano]

Kad, you probably can't name even one animated masterpiece.

[Jordan Catalano]

See, I told you you couldn't.

[Kad]

DAMN YOU GOT ME. All animated films are for babies and immature morons.

So Wicked could really work as an animated film, then.

[Jordan Catalano]

But 13 year old fat girls need a REAL girl they drool over and scream "THAT'S ME!!!!!!" to the screen. It's just kind of pathetic if you do it to an animated character, y'know.

[Kad]

As long as that Elphaba is the third replacement Elphaba from the sixth Croatian tour! You know the one! This film will make her a star!

[Jordan Catalano]

Well it HAS to be someone who was in the show. Or Anne Hathaway or one of the girls from PRETTY LITTLE LIARS. I mean, it HAS. TO. BE.

[Kad]

If it's Taylor Swift, I will LITERALLY KILL MYSELF AND THEN EVERYONE ELSE.

[Wynbish]

"Fiyero, I just met you, and this is crazy..."

[Jordan Catalano]

...but pull my finger, and call me maybe"

[Kad]

You know what, I'd watch the hell out of that.

[Jordan Catalano]

"Friday, Friday, Flyin' Brooms On Friday"

[all that jazz]

I adore all of the Disney classic specially Beauty and the Beast which was my favorite movie growing up. However I'm an actor and call me elitist or whatever you want to call me, but I believe a film's or a show's heart and soul relies on its performances; even more so with musicals. I think musicals present unique opportunities for actors to express things which they couldn't express if it weren't for the music. That's why they produce such legendary performances like Liza in Cabaret, Barbra in Funny Girl, Jennifer Hudson in Dreamgirls...

Wicked if done right definitely has the potential to deliver such performances and it would really be a shame to lower such a monumental show to animation. If Rock of Ages had a chance, then it should go without saying that Wicked deserves one too.

[Jordan Catalano]

Of everything I've ever read since I was in preschool, that ranks up there as one of the most ridiculous.

[Kad]

"Lower such a monumental show to animation"?

First off: Wicked's book and lyrics are not advanced enough to be on a Saturday morning cartoon. If anything, animation has to stoop down to Wicked.

Second off: Yeah, you're elitist. A genuinely well-crafted work of animation is no "less" than any other work of art. Watch something by Miyazaki. Watch classic Disney films. Watch something by Henry Selick. Watch WALL-E or Up.

Being an actor is not a valid defense.

[Jordan Catalano]

Fans of this musical never disappoint as being some of the most illogical human beings ever put on this planet.

[all that jazz]

Jordan, Well judging by the maturity of your posts pre school shouldn't have been too much time ago, am I right?

And could you please enlighten me by telling me which part of my post you found ridiculous so that I can stay awake tionight and reflect upon my stupidity.

Kad, I have watched all of the Disney classics, Walt Disney is one of my biggest idols and I have spent years studying his extraordinary life and legacy. Some of them are pieces of art, like Most of the Pixar movies, but they still can't be compared to live action movies. Yes, of course animators are artists too but an animated character is not able to make you feel what an actor makes you feel, and even if they could they shouldn't. It goes against the very essence of theater.

[Jordan Catalano]

Ouch. That stung.

[Kad]

But this isn't theater. This is a film.

And what about the scores and scores of terrible live-action films, which easily outnumber animated films? And what about terrible actors, of which many still manage to have a good career?

"Yes, of course animators are artists too but an animated character is not able to make you feel what an actor makes you feel, and even if they could they shouldn't."

That is one of the most absurd things I have ever read on this forum. Congratulations. So people who are moved by animated characters shouldn't feel that way? And therefore, animators shouldn't try?

And what is your idea of the essence of theatre, anyway? Because it seems naive. And narrow-minded. And very young and poorly informed.

I'll tell you what the very essence of theatre is: it's human beings creating something from nothing something that reflects life in front of an audience. It is not to cause an audience to "feel". The feeling happens naturally.


Animation is a human endeavor. Is it no less than live performance. Or writing. Or dance. Or sculpting. Or music. Stop treating it like it's beneath you and maybe you'll expand as an artist.