Animation : Sequels!!! by Bob Harper

I'm disappointed too, Bob Harper. There are some sequels I'm excited for (like "Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse" and "Toy Story 5"), but a lot of the sequels that will be coming out don't interest me. I know sequels are big money for studios and companies, but I'd like to see more original animated movies. I'm sure other people feel the same way.

Sequels can be great, but I never want to see a company "lean on" sequels over originals. Thats disappointing for so many reasons.

I can see that diminishing their audience numbers over time. I like sequels. But relying on them can't be a lucrative strategy.

From a writer’s point of view, the challenge is to bring your concepts and themes into the framework of the IP you’re given.

I saw Neil Gaiman talk this week. He told about how he was given established DC character of Black Orchid to write. His partner, artist Dave McKean, was frustrated. He wanted to do a story about ecology and third world problems and rain forests and contemporary crime… Neil said, don’t worry I’ll put it in there. So he did.

His next project was Sandman, another property DC gave him to work with. So he reinvented that too.

Sequels are often not very original. But they can be. Paddington 2. Toy Story 3. Godfather Part II. Friday the 13th Part 6. (Had to get some horror in there.)

Good point, Mike Boas . It also depends on what the writer is passionate about and to be real, whether or not they would like (or need) the work. One of my favs is "The Iron Giant". If given the chance to write a sequel for that, I'd jump on it. But I also agree with Marsy Robinson in that there's so much out there untapped. I'm getting recommends as a writer but that doesn't translate to my animated work seeing the light of day. Still believing though.

In a perfect world, doing a sequel with the freedom to explore and evolve a property can lead to great results. But considering the mindset of the current Disney regime, I'll stay skeptical that it would happen.

Not too surprising given how Disney has been churning sequels and spinoffs with the Marvel and Star Wars franchises coupled with last year's major layoffs. Hopefully, if this helps them turn the Wall Street corner in the sort term, they'll open back up to original ideas in the long run.

Same for video games. If it's not a sequel, it's a reboot, remake, or remaster.

With the growth of indie development I find it hard to believe that they can't find fresh creatives to bring new ideas to the world.

Daniel Husbands Believe me, there are plenty of fresh creatives working at the studios, there just aren't very many executives willing to take a risk.

As I said in another thread, as long as people keep going to see them, the studios are gonna keep making them. To quote Bill Burr, "The money listens."

I'd be game for an "A Bug's Life" sequel. We gotta know what those bugs been up to!