When discussing the movies of Walt Disney Animation Studios from the twenty first century, “Meet the Robinsons” is commonly missed. That may be a disgrace, as a result of it is without doubt one of the studio’s most underrated movies, telling a honest sci-fi coming-of-age story full of equal elements laughter and thoughtfulness. Though the movie was a field workplace disappointment, grossing $170.5 million over a funds of $150 million, it obtained usually optimistic evaluations from critics. It has additionally garnered some notoriety on-line, with followers of the movie who had been youngsters when it hit theaters 18 years in the past, now revisiting it and in some circumstances, sharing it with their youngsters.
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“Meet the Robinsons” showcased an thrilling sci-fi world, and given its distinguished use of time journey, utilized intelligent story mechanics to discover completely different eras in time, significantly the 12 months 2037, which, *gulp,* we’re nearer to now than we’re to 2007. Implementing time journey into the script successfully explored the non-public and emotional journeys of the movie’s protagonist Lewis (Jordan Fry), and the antagonist, the Bowler Hat Man (Stephen Anderson). It additionally performed nicely for some nice laughs, with one of many movie’s extra memorable sequences showcasing the Bowler Hat Man’s childhood reminiscences as Lewis’ roommate, Goob, who, identical to Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) in “Cobra Kai,” by no means received over his devastating loss in a make-or-break-it occasion, a lot so, that he would carry that resentment nicely into maturity. This results in the ever-so memeable and oh-so relatable second wherein Goob walks by his faculty’s hallway in comical self-pity, snubbing his classmates’ compliments and invites, along with his grownup self reflecting by voiceover, “All of them hated me.” To today, no second in an animated Disney movie has made my adolescent self really feel extra seen.
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Regardless of ending on a narratively satisfying observe, “Meet the Robinsons” simply left the door open for additional enlargement, due to its slew of memorable characters and strong worldbuilding. Sadly, though a direct-to-video sequel was in growth, it by no means took flight, which is disappointing given the ripe potential the movie left for brand spanking new tales.
Meet the Robinsons 2 was cancelled by John Lasseter
Within the late Nineteen Nineties and early 2000s, Disneytoon Studios produced direct-to-video sequels to a few of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ theatrical releases. A few of these sequels had been based mostly on the Disney Renaissance period of movies, together with “Magnificence and the Beast,” “Aladdin,” and “The Lion King,” in addition to movies following that period, akin to “The Emperor’s New Groove,” “Lilo and Sew,” and “Brother Bear.” In accordance with Jim Hill Media, quite a few sequels had been in growth at Disneytoon Studios, together with “Dumbo II,” “Rooster Little: The Ugly Duckling Story,” and naturally, “Meet the Robinsons 2: First Date.”
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Nonetheless, The Walt Disney Firm acquired Pixar Animation Studios in 2006 for $7.6 billion. Together with the acquisition got here the promotion of “Toy Story” director John Lasseter as Chief Artistic Officer of each Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios. Considered one of Lasseter’s notable selections was to cancel Disneytoon’s direct-to-video sequels that had been in growth on the time, claiming that such movies had devalued the repute of Disney’s animated catalog. And with that, “Meet the Robinsons 2: First Date” would by no means see the sunshine of day, and Disneytoon itself would shut down in 2018.
How Disney+ may reintroduce audiences to Meet the Robinsons
Though Disney has lengthy retired its direct-to-video sequels, the rise of Disney+ leaves a door open for additional enlargement of a few of its mental properties. TV exhibits based mostly on “Star Wars” and the Marvel Cinematic Universe have served as anchors for the streaming service, however a lot of the platform’s success relies on youngsters viewing the animated catalog. Certain, the primary “Moana” was critically and commercially profitable in its preliminary theatrical run, however Disney+ was the place the movie gained a good greater lifetime of its personal, changing into the most-streamed film of all time, sustaining the highest spot from 2020 to 2024.
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Clearly, “Meet the Robinsons” is just not almost as standard as “Moana,” but when extra followers who watched the movie as youngsters introduce it to their youngsters as we speak, maybe curiosity can be renewed. A theatrical sequel is probably going out of the query, given the unique movie’s low field workplace returns, however a tv sequence specializing in the additional adventures of Lewis and his innovations, or maybe a sequence set in 2037 and past, highlighting the futuristic lives of the Robinson household can be an awesome story to inform. Above all, it might even be nice to see the brand new grownup model of Goob, provided that Lewis did him a strong by waking him as much as catch the successful ball at his Little League championship, stopping him from his cursed path of changing into the Bowler Hat Man.
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