Instead of opening with ENCHANTED on Nov. 21, the new 2D Goofy short from Walt Disney Animation Studios, HOW TO HOOK UP YOUR HOME THEATER, will make its theatrical debut with NATIONAL TREASURE: BOOK OF SECRETS on Dec. 21.
This is surprising, considering that Kevin Lima's ENCHANTED opens with 10 minutes of 2D animation of the fairy tale world.
However, the counter programming of Goofy with the live-action sequel to the NATIONAL TREASURE blockbuster shows how passionately Disney views its new animated shorts program under the leadership of Pixar's John Lassseter and Ed Catmull.
HOW TO HOOK UP YOUR HOME THEATER, directed by Kevin Deters & Stevie Wermers, has already qualified for Oscar consideration by playing at the Ottawa Animation Festival and the Chicago Children's Festival. The short is inspired by the beloved HOW TO Goofy shorts of the 40s and 50s directed by Jack Kinney and animated by John Sibley.
"I'm very proud of what Kevin and Stevie have done with HOW TO HOOK UP YOUR HOME THEATER because he's exactly in the style of THE HOW TO shorts, but it's subject matter that's totally relevant for today's audience, and that juxtaposition is so entertaining," Lasseter told AWN.
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
