BCDB: Cartoon Reviews: Pinocchio And The Emperor Of The Night

Originally pitched as "PINOCCHIO". This was the first of FILMATION'S special animation unit to create feature animated films called the "CLASSICS". This 1985 production film was set to be produced for at least $5 million dollars budget. WESTINGHOUSE put out the money at first. This film went through an inhouse type system production at times using the full company. But the budget went into a new work location for this "CLASSIC" production "unit" near the then new FILMATION building in Canoga Park, CA. FILMATION during 1986 moved up from Reseda to the posh surroundings of high roller Canoga Park. Hal Southerland was named Director of this unit to keep the budget on track. There were so many union staffers and a number of changes that bumped the budget over the $5M mark. The inhouse production and staff created this film the same way they created their television films like He-Man. The studio selected a good veteran group of artists to make this very special studio film. An odd legal situation ... was brought up by the "legals" between FILMATION and DISNEY. The counter proposals went on and on with suggested changes in the overall "LOOK" of this film and the future upcoming "SNOW WHITE" production. It was proposed with legal ramifications that for example the character designs loose any of the nice curves, but take on more of an angular wooden "LOOK". This was to be implemented into the production overall so the public wouldn't get confused with Disney's version. The lawyers were some caught up in making sure this film was impaired that even the story had to be impaired. This went along while during production and changed to disheartening for the staff on it. Anyway a paycheck is a paycheck, the film got out there. It ended up that Disney didn't have worry, YA!, ...it "BOMBED!