Word: firebirds
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Dates: during 1990-1999
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Stravinsky's The Firebird, animated by the brothers Gaetan and Paul Brizzi, becomes a volcano dweller who destroys a forest; an elk and a wood sprite must somehow restore the glade. The story is similar to the Japanese animated film Princess Mononoke but told in under 10 minutes and with a more vibrant palette...
Well, maybe next time. After all, there were plans for animating Firebird soon after the original film was released; Stravinsky saw Disney's take on The Rite of Spring, liked it and gave Disney the rights to other pieces. "Good ideas will always find their way to the screen," says Peter Schneider, Disney Studios boss. Or to some other part of the Magic Kingdom. Roy talks of putting the Rachmaninoff piece, which was fully storyboarded before it was scratched, in Disneyland's CircleVision pavilion. With a budget estimated at $85 million (some skeptics say it's nearly twice that amount...
...Firebird, however, is not without comic relief. Giant storks, with five-foot long necks, as well as other odd castle creatures provide laughs, but never does Wheeldon lose the carefully cultivated menacing atmosphere of Kastchei's land...
...music adds to the intensity of Firebird. The choreography is intricately tied to Stravinsky's haunting score, which complements the dancing perfectly. Combined with Boston Ballet's brilliant sets and costumes, the result creates a delicately-synchronized, maximum impact...
...Whether you find The Princess and the Pea a riotous, refreshing break from tradition or overly spoof-y, remember that Firebird is next. It's worth the wait...