Where " Tangled " Animators found their Inspiration for the Magical " Lanterns in the Night " Sequence

This week Tangled was released in the U.S, and apparently most of film critics loved it, some even saying it deserves an Academy Award... If you've seen it you probably have been fascinated by the magical "lanterns" sequence with hundreds of lanterns flying in the sky.



I thought you would be interested to know where Disney animators found their inspiration for this sequence, but first, for those of you who haven't seen Tangled yet, have a look at the "lantern" scene in the Tangled trailer.



In the trailer you've seen just a few seconds of the lanterns scene but in the movie it is a longer and fascinating sequence. And if i tell you that the sight of hundreds of paper lanterns flying in the sky is truly magical and memorable it's because i've seen it myself! And in real.



And where did I saw it, you ask? In South-East Asia. In Thailand, more precisely. You see, on New Year's Eve it's thousand of lanterns who fly high in the sky over the Andaman Sea. Thaïs people are there to help tourists to light the lanterns (and to sell them too, for a small amount of 3$) and if one day you come to Phuket for Christmas holidays it's something you must not miss.



Above two pictures shot in Phuket on Patong beach - you don't see well the people because it's nighttime but there was literally thousands of people on the beach, both flying lanterns and waiting for the New Year's Eve fireworks. And below, two short videos filmed by me which will show you these hundred of lanterns flying in the sky - in the video, all the white spots in the night are lanterns! On the second video, a big part of the New Year's Eve firework WITH the lanterns flying in the middle of it! These two videos are in HD and the firework itself, launched from almost everywhere all around Patong Bay is spectacular, so don't hesitate to watch the videos in full screen mode!








As you understood these lanterns-flying-in-the-sky is a typical Asian tradition and, although you won't see this in Europe, it didn't stopped Disney animators to use the idea for this Tangled sequence, even if the story don't happen in Asia. After all, why not, and i'm sure this sequence will be magical in the movie. But at least you will know where the idea is coming from.

Pictures: copyright Disney - Alain Littaye

Videos: copyright Alain Littaye

Tangled Pre-Review

I saw today in a press screening Tangled and i liked it. I mean, more than i expected. I didn't had a lot of expectations but, honestly, it's good, even very good. Good story and characters - including the horse who is very funny. Top 3D animation, too. A little bit too many songs, though - some are good, others not exceptionnal - and although they were written by Alan Menken there is not as many memorable songs than, let's say, in Beauty and the Beast.

However, I think this new animated movie is going to be successful, not as much as Toy Story 3 but certainly more than Princess and the Frog - which personally i liked a lot. There is a review embargo until Nov 7 so i can't tell you more right now but all i can say is that it should be a good surprise for all of you when it will be released Nov 24 in the U.S and next month in France and all over Europe!

Picture: copyright Disney

Where " Tangled " Animators found their Inspiration for the Magical " Lanterns in the Night " Sequence

Two days ago Disney released new Tangled trailers, one of them is the "international" trailer. If you didn't watched them yet you'll find them below. Also, you may have heard that Walt Disney Animation Studios showed last week an almost finished "Tangled" to the press. And apparently most of the guests loved it, some even saying it deserves an Academy Award which is may be a bit exagerated... However, it seems that everyone was fascinated by one magical sequence, i.e the "lanterns" sequence with hundreds of lanterns flying in the sky.



I thought you would be interested to know where Disney animators found their inspiration for this sequence, but first i let you have a look to the scene in the Tangled trailers.







In the trailers you've seen just a few seconds of this lanterns scene but in the movie it'll be for sure a longer and fascinating sequence. And if i tell you that the sight of hundreds of paper lanterns flying in the sky is truly magical and memorable it's because i've seen it myself! And in real.



And where did I saw it, you ask? In South-East Asia. In Thailand, more precisely. You see, on New Year's Eve it's thousand of lanterns who fly high in the sky over the Andaman Sea. Thaïs people are there to help tourists to light the lanterns (and to sell them too, for a small amount of 3$) and if one day you come to Phuket for Christmas holidays it's something you must not miss.



Above two pictures shot in Phuket on Patong beach - you don't see well the people because it's nighttime but there was literally thousands of people on the beach, both flying lanterns and waiting for the New Year's Eve fireworks. And below, two short videos filmed by me which will show you these hundred of lanterns flying in the sky - in the video, all the white spots in the night are lanterns! On the second video, a big part of the New Year's Eve firework WITH the lanterns flying in the middle of it! These two videos are in HD and the firework itself, launched from almost everywhere all around Patong Bay is spectacular, so don't hesitate to watch the videos in full screen mode!

As you've probably understood by now these lanterns-flying-in-the-sky is a typical Asian tradition and, although you won't see this in Europe, it didn't stopped Disney animators to use the idea for this Tangled sequence, even if the story don't happen in Asia. After all, why not, and i'm sure this sequence will be magical in the movie. But at least you will know where the idea is coming from.









Pictures: copyright Disney - Alain Littaye

Videos: copyright Alain Littaye

My answer to Tangled french title

What you see above is Tangled french poster, "Raiponce" being - i suppose - the french translation or the french title for "Rapunzel". The only problem is that "Raiponce" means probably nothing for the french audience as the tale is not known here, in France. Even worst, if you talk to someone in France and ask him what Raiponce means he will think that you're talking about the word "Réponse" which means "answer" in French. And i'm ready to bet that in a few months from now everyone in France will joke on the title or will ask who the hell is responsible for choosing such a bad title.

I can understand that it's the original french title of the novel but, honestly, it's probably the worst movie title i've seen since a looong time... I must add that i don't have high expectations on this new Disney animated movie. I'm sure the animation and backdrop paintings will be brilliant but so far i don't "feel" it - but i'm ready to change my opinion if i see really exciting material from this "Raiponce". In the meantime, if you've not seen yet the first trailer, here it is below.

Add hat tip to Blue Sky Disney from where the poster picture is coming from!




Picture and video: copyright Disney

First Tangled "Rapunzel" Teaser

Disney released two days ago a first Tangled "Rapunzel" teaser, and the least we can say is that it's really a "teaser", i.e it don't shows a lot of the movie and you won't see any characters. I remind you that Disney changed recently the movie title, now called Tangled, instead of Rapunzel.




But if we want to watch a few seconds of animation of the Rapunzel character we have to go on the WorstPreviews web site which have this very short clip which may have been done quite a while ago.




Always on the WorstPreviews web site but much more interesting this work in progress of the trailer - and don't ask me how they've got it...




Tangled is supposed to be released in the U.S in November 2010.

Picture and videos: copyright Walt Disney Animations.