The NCAA Men's and Woman's basketball tournaments are in full swing. As I am writing this post the "final four" of the Men's brackets have been determined.
Even though I really enjoyed my "Disney Music Madness" tournament last year; I never intend to introduce a 2nd edition this year. However, the excitement over the WKU team making it to the "big dance" along with the Wild Cats of UK being in the #1 seed has persuaded me to change my mind. So this year's Disney Madness is all about animated movies.
In addition, this year I've encouraged my family and friends on Facebook to actively participate by voting in each round. So thank you to all who are reading this post with the intention of being involved.
Just a few "house keeping" things and procedures that apply throughout the duration of the tournament. First thing is to remember that I am doing this for fun. Since last year I made the choices and picked the winner all by myself to have the input and discussion of others, this year, should be fun. So let me say it again: let's just have fun. Remember it's just a game.
The 32 movies and the brackets they have been placed in and the seedings are all chosen and organized by me. They are based on my likes and affections for the participating films. They will not be changed.
You can vote for each match up of each round but only once. To vote send me a message on Facebook with your choices or email me at the address listed at the end of this post. Feel free to give your reasons behind your decision they may persuade me one way or the other. You do have to vote for all match ups in each round. If your vote message is not complete it won't count. In the event of a tie I will make the tie-breaking decision; that's why you might want to advise me of your opinions.
When you do vote try your best to only consider the movie and nothing else with perhaps the exception of it's box office success. There are a lot of movies in this tournament that have become huge merchandise franchises for Disney, sparked some TV spin offs, been incorporated into an attraction or show in a Disney theme park, and some have even spawned a sequel or two. Forget about those aspects. Although I will be mentioning box office numbers a lot when describing bracket match ups but that's only because I'm trying to share some info about the film but trying to hold back on including my personal opinions for this first round. I want you to remember vote with your heart. It will result in the film that truly exhibits the real spirit of Walt Disney winning it all.
Having established those standards let's get to the first round. There are 32 movies in this tournament. They are all Disney animated feature films released from between the years 1937 and 2011. They have all been released in theaters at least once and released on DVD. Now, it's time to reveal the brackets and the matchups. I will expound on how and why they are what the way they are.
The first bracket is called the "Pixar Bracket". I know a lot of the most popular and successful Disney released films are Pixar productions. While there may be several films in this bracket that have the potential to be "final four" films if included in other brackets. But as a body of work the Pixar films deserve to be in their own bracket in this tournament. I have chosen 10 Pixar films for the tournament but only 8 of them are in this bracket.
Pixar Bracket
Match Up 1: Finding Nemo VS Wall-E
Both of these films were directed by Andrew Stanton. "Nemo" has one of the best supporting characters in any Disney animated film. "Wall-E" has the lead character with a limited vocabulary but his adventures are "out of this world."
Match Up 2: A Bug's Life VS Cars
A Bug's Life was the 2nd Pixar film ever released (co-directed by Andrew Stanton) and has one of my favorite Pixar characters, Flick. It goes up against the film that sparked a sequel and introduced Mater, another very strong supporting character.
Match Up 3: The Incredibles VS Toy Story 3
Bob Parr and his family are "super" and they show it by working together to defeat the evil Syndrome. "The Incredibles" won the Best Animated feature" Oscar. What can be said about Toy Story 3? A lot. But let me just sum it up by saying when it comes to box office earnings this was Pixar's billion (yes, billion) dollar baby.
Match Up 4: Toy Story 2 VS Monsters Inc.
The Pixar bracket first round match ups concludes with the first Pixar sequel. It's matched up against the film whose sequel (actually a prequel) is scheduled for summer 2013 release. This will be a tough choice. Just to let you know these two films were consecutive Pixar releases (1999 & 2001 respectively). Monster's Inc got the better box office take by $60 million. Together they made just over a billion dollars worldwide. Both won "Best Song" Oscars as well. This one is a toss up. It's up to you.
The next bracket is based loosely on what is referred to as the "2nd Golden Age" of Disney animation. This is considered the decade of 1985 to 1995. I have included the last 2 Pixar movies in the tournament in this bracket as well; along with the "Best Animated Feature" Oscar winner from 2009. Some of the "2nd Golden Age" films should be considered top contenders to win this tournament. But then again it's all up to your votes.
2nd Golden Age Bracket:
Match Up 1: The Lion King VS Lilo and Stitch
This is a mismatch. I mean, just last fall, 17 years after it's initial release, a 3D edition of The Lion King made nearly $100 million here in the US alone. Lilo and Stitch may be a "feel good" movie with a "lovable" anti-hero but it's no Lion King. If you're a fan of Lilo & Stitch, you may resolve to just be glad you were selected to be included in the tournament.
Match Up 2: The Little Mermaid VS The Rescuers Down Under
I've already had a pair of my family members express their predetermined choice of "Mermaid" as the tournament winner. I know of one other perspective voter who, all though she has not expressed it, just might feel that way as well. The Little Mermaid is the 1989 film that breathed life back into the Disney animation studio. It is one of the modern Disney classics.
Despite it being the lowest grossing Disney animated film of all time (until "Mars Needs Moms" came out last year) "Rescuers Down Under" is in this bracket for a pair of reasons. First of all it was the one Disney movie that played in the movie theater I worked at in the early 90's; for that reason I saw it many times. I really like it.
Second, in the documentary "Waking Sleeping Beauty" it is expressed by several Disney animators that production and computer animation lessons learned during the making of "Rescuers 2" served as the launching pad for the "2nd Golden Age." This is another one of those "it's an honor just to be invited" match ups.
Match Up 3: Beauty & The Beast VS Toy Story
A "clash of titans" in the opening round of the tournament. Beauty & The Beast was the first animated feature ever nominated for "Best Picture" at the Academy Awards. A $220 million box office in the first release and $47 million in the 3D release this past January. As I said, it's iconic; but it's up against another giant. The first Pixar film that launched a franchise. The technology used was ground breaking. The story of toys coming alive (when we were kids didn't we all believe this happened every night) and being devoted to their owner. Tough choice. Don't make me make it alone.
Match Up 4: Aladdin VS UP: A flying carpet against a flying house. I have a lot of opinions about each. Aladdin gave us a new princess, Jasmine. UP gave us Doug the talking dog. The box office results for each was well over $700 million. It comes down to which you like best: The performance of Robin Williams as Genie or the touching love story portrayed in the first 10 minutes of UP.
The third bracket is filled with movies that are based on books. Most of them are considered fairy tales. There are more fairies, witches, and princesses in this bracket than the rest of the entire tournament. Nearly all of them are considered Disney classics and 75% of them were productions supervised by Walt Disney, himself.
Story Book Bracket
Match Up 1: Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs VS Sleeping Beauty
This competition is almost a "no brainer". "Sleeping Beauty" has a princess; a charming prince; not just one but, 3 funny fairies; a dragon, and one of the most evil Disney villains of all time, Maleficent. But "Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs" started it all. It is the feature that made this tournament possible. Enough said.
Match Up 2: Tangled VS The Princess And The Frog
A pairing of the two most recently released Disney animated features in this bracket are paired up in this match up. At the US box office Tangled holds a 2 :1 edge. I have a rather unique personal connection with both of these films. Paula and I had a private screening of both. We were the only ones in the theater on Christmas Eve 2010 & 2009, respectively.
Match Up 3: Peter Pan VS Cinderella
This is a tough choice between the film that introduced the world to Tinkerbell and the movie with the character who is considered the first Disney princess, Cinderella. Your vote will depend on if you believe that "a dream is a wish your heart makes" or in the magic of pixie dust. You decide.
Match Up 4: Sword In The Stone VS Pinocchio
I put these two films against each other because their stories are similar. They both feature 2 young boy characters who on their journey to becoming who they are destined to be learn valuable lessons that will help them be just that. I think the deciding factor in choosing which to vote for are the supporting characters. As promised, I won't expound on my opinion, but when it comes to my choice I'll give you two words: Jiminy Cricket!
The last bracket in this year's tournament are all films that feature animals. It also includes the last feature Walt Disney had a hand in creating. Some are popular Disney classics while others are among the lesser known features. But all of them are deserving of their place in the tournament.
Animal Tales Bracket
Match Up 1: Jungle Book VS The Fox and The Hound
Friendship is the overall theme of both of these films. With classic characters like Baloo the Bear and King Louie along with the songs of the Sherman brothers Jungle Book is a real heavyweight, not only in this match up, but in the entire bracket. Todd & Copper, the main characters in Fox & The Hound, are likable enough but they pale in comparison.
Match Up 2: Lady & The Tramp VS Dumbo
This is another 1st round pairing of two iconic Disney films. Lady & The Tramp has one of the most memorable kisses in movie history. I know that I suggested that you judge your votes on just the movie and not consider its residual effects on the Disney company. But when it comes to Dumbo I would like to point out that there is a car from the Dumbo ride in Disneyland on exhibit in the Smithsonian Instituter's American History museum. Just saying...
Match Up 3: 101 Dalmatians VS Robin Hood
A movie with cute cartoon puppies against a movie that's a twist on a legendary story. 101 Dalmatians has a catchy song and a classic villain: Cruella DeVil. Robin Hood is basically the characters from the Jungle Book recast in the roles of the residence of Sherwood Forrest.
Match Up 4: Winnie The Pooh (2011) VS Aristocats
I know you are probably wondering why I've put last year's Winnie the Pooh movie in this tournament. Well, to explain that I have to express an opinion. You see I went to the theater to see this movie because it was an attempt to relaunch a Disney franchise that has lost some of it's popularity over the last decade. I was curious as to how they were going to do it. I was pleasantly surprised. I found this reboot of the characters from the 100 acre wood. The dialogue and the music makes it very entertaining.
The Aristocats has cute kittens and yet another memorable character voice by Phil Harris: Thomas O'Malley.
So there you have the first round match ups. Sixteen pairings of 32 of my favorite Disney animated movies. Now it's up to you to help me decide which films should go on to Round 2.
At the suggestion of my wife I've created a voting template. You can copy and paste the list below and somehow indicate which movie you are voting for.
Pixar Bracket
Match Up 1: Finding Nemo VS Wall-E
Match Up 2: A Bug's Life VS Cars
Match Up 3: The Incredibles VS Toy Story 3
Match Up 4: Toy Story 2 VS Monsters Inc.
2nd Golden Age Bracket:
Match Up 1: The Lion King VS Lilo and Stitch
Match Up 2: The Little Mermaid VS The Rescuers Down Under
Match Up 3: Beauty & The Beast VS Toy Story
Match Up 4: Aladdin VS UP
Story Book Bracket
Match Up 1: Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs VS Sleeping Beauty
Match Up 2: Tangled VS The Princess And The Frog
Match Up 3: Peter Pan VS Cinderella
Match Up 4: Sword In The Stone VS Pinocchio
Animal Tales Bracket
Match Up 1: Jungle Book VS The Fox and The Hound
Match Up 2: Lady & The Tramp VS Dumbo
Match Up 3: 101 Dalmatians VS Robin Hood
Match Up 4: Winnie The Pooh (2011) VS Aristocats
Again, send your votes to me by message on Facebook or by email (Rewindguy909@aol.com). The votes must be received by Tuesday March 27 at 10 PM central time. I really appreciate you joining me in this tournament. It makes it some much more fun. Let the voting begin.
