Monday, August 31, 2009

Snow White and Spidey

What a concept.

Disney said in a statement that it would pay a combination of about 60 percent cash and 40 percent stock to acquire Marvel, which has a stable of some 5,000 characters that includes the X-Men, Fantastic Four, Iron Man, Captain America and Thor ...

It's not hard to see why the House of Mouse wants to do this deal:

Marvel’s intellectual property tends to be more popular with boys — an area where Disney could use the help. While the likes of “Hannah Montana” and the blockbuster Princesses merchandising line have solidified Disney’s hold on little girls, franchises for boys have recently been harder to come by ...

When you're a hungry conglomerate, it's about finding ways to strengthen and shore up your brands. Increasing cash flow and market share are now and forever the prime motivators.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

the consolidation continues. ironic that the weakness of the "economy" is the strength of the monopoly.

Anonymous said...

I guess Film Roman can kiss those two Marvel shows it produces goodbye. In a year they'll simply be the studio that produces only The Simpsons.

J. Jonah Jameson said...

Well it seems the intrepid Greg B at AN was way ahead of the curve on this one:

"Well this is lonnnnng overdue. I told Disney back in '98-'99 when Marvel could have been bought for pennies on the dollar."

Amazing how he was advising Disney even back then. I wonder if he means Roy Disney or "Disney Co." as a whole, like Michael Eisner, etc. Must have been at one of those famous backyard cook-outs Michael was always inviting industry movers & shakers to . Greg B showed up there with his then wife, the lovely Morgan Fairchild, ("yeah, that's it , that's the ticket , Morgan Fairchild") and gave Mikey that hot tip about buying Marvel. If only Eisner had listened then.

'Nuff said.

Greg B said...

ROTFLMAO!!!!

Great Caesar's ghost! You animators are a hoot! I hang around with some of the biggest investors in town, and this Marvel deal is yesterday's news in my circles.

Keep your eye on Italy. That's all I'm gonna say now, just keep your eye on em.

Anonymous said...

Disney is buying Italy? cool.

g said...

Dont feed the trolls.

The Real, and The Best, Greg B said...

I also had the idea for this Saturday Night Live character. It's based on me. I'm planning on suing them:

http://www.hulu.com/watch/52192/saturday-night-live-penelope---therapy

Snakes the Clown said...

Fist high !

Anonymous said...

Or as we say in the tattoo parlor biz, 'Keep Creatin'!"

Anonymous said...

I don't understand why Disney did this. The most well known (read: presold) characters have already been used by other studios locked into long term contracts.
There aren't many other Marvel characters people care much about--and the lesser ones will need just as much development as ORIGINAL IDEAS, and Marvel cost a WHOLE LOT MORE.

Bad move.

Anonymous said...

They way overpaid for it. Bad move and other divisions will likely suffer for it, short or longterm.

Anonymous said...

How long until they show up in the Small World ride at the parks?

Anonymous said...

I think it's a good idea and a good strategy...however I'm with anon above, they way overpaid for it. Well, maybe they can contend a little now against Warner Bros. and their DC shows of Batman and Superman (lord knows it's the only thing warner animation can make money off of...and spend money on for that matter)

rufus said...

http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/why-disney-has-to-wait-for-marvel-synergy/

Anonymous said...

Hey, Steve, any idea what happens to the Film Roman Marvel shows??? - assuming they get renewed that is...

Here's hoping Wubbzy gets a season 3! Boy, Film Roman & yellow: Garfield, Bart & Wubbzy

Anonymous said...

Greg B. at AN keepin' it real:

http://www.animationnation.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=013993;p=1#000029

"Show us your sketchbook !"

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