‘Rapunzel Unbraided’ Would Have Been…

by Chris December 7, 2010

Alright this whole Rapunzel situation is trippin’ me out. Everything I knew, or thought I knew… is wrong?

As I’ve written time and time before, “Rapunzel Unbraided” was to be Mega-Animator Glenn Keane’s return to classic Disney storytelling. Then somewhere after ’05 or ’06 after developing the film for over six years he gets the boot, the film is retooled, re-written and we sit tight and wait. Then the film drops it’s “Unbraided” and we wait some more. Let’s see what they do. Can’t be worse than “Chicken Little.” Plus, we know Alan Menken is writing new songs. It’s been too long. Ok, so, early 2010 comes, we’re close… title change to “Tangled” and a teaser in front of “Toy Story 3” using Pink music rather than Alan Menken songs and the film alienates anyone who has ever cared about the film in the first place. Thanksgiving weekend comes along and we brace ourselves to once again feel perhaps the worst feeling in the world – broken magic – dropped potential – annoying, grating, obnoxious… basically we brace ourselves for a Dreamworks animated film. And why not? That’s what we were sold in the trailers and TV spots. In fact, we would not even be in that seat if Alan Menken was not involved in this project. But where were his songs? Why are we still hearing Pink in the TV spots? Just what is going on here. *Sigh* Lights dim… Disney logo appears… We all are sit with fingers crosses, hoping this castle logo is not the most magical part of the film. And then… then… something enchanted happens. The film is not what we saw in the trailer. Not we we saw in those tv spots. The film may not be traditionally hand drawn but it feels like it. It feels old and new at the same time. There’s our Menken. Each track of the five topping the last leading us all out on to the water so we can all SEE THE LIGHT. And the film becomes 4D as some of the water is now all over our faces. What in hell is going on? The biggest surprise reversal of expectation in movie history? Quite possibly. But that’s only half the story…

What if… the version in development, before the retooling… when Glen Keane was still in charge… what if it wasn’t very good? What if John Lasseter did the absolute right thing with this film? No, no way, can’t be, right? Well that’s what I would say, too… and then we have this… a look at some rough animatics to the film in its 2005 state. Now I know these are subject to change, but, Edward Scissorhands temp score aside, this is not really working. I appreciate the vision of the opening but leading to a modern day setting in San Fransisco… I just don’t know.

This video may just be proof that everything we thought we knew for the last decade was wrong. We still may not like the ad campaign, but no one can deny Disney really pulled a “Kingdom of the Sun / Lion King” on this one and conjured up some last minute magic that wasn’t always there. Take a look…

Before you go, check out another interesting short clip from a “Rapunzel Unbraided” 2D animation test! Now, let’s go see the real film. I’ll meet ya at the El Capitan!

I still wish the film was traditionally hand drawn 2D animation. it would just help to make the film feel more “Disney Classic” this is the one gripe I may never be ever to get over.