Top 10 Rejected Animated Movies That Became Successful
#10: “Heavy Metal” (1981)
While animated children’s movies are regular box office hits, there’s also an audience for more mature works. This science fiction anthology film was only a moderate commercial and critical success when it was first released, but over time, it’s gained popularity. It was produced by multiple animation studios, with each one working on different segments. Nelvana Limited turned down their chance to contribute to the project, opting instead to produce their first feature, “Rock & Rule.” The Canadian studio gets credit for producing a full-length film, but they also lost an opportunity to be associated with a cult classic.
#9: “Vivo” (2021)
In 2010, Lin-Manuel Miranda was pitched a movie deal by DreamWorks Animation. However, the same year Miranda’s musical “Hamilton” took the Broadway world by storm, the studio underwent a restructuring that caused them to drop the animated project. It wasn’t until 2016 that Sony Pictures Animation picked it up. In addition to being cast as the titular character, the award-winning composer was also contracted to write eleven original songs. The animated feature broke records the month it started streaming on Netflix and received praise specifically for its music. It goes to show, dropping a project with Lin-Manuel Miranda is never a good idea.
#8: “Ron's Gone Wrong” (2021)
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The children’s movie for a technological age is the first animated feature from Locksmith Animation. The film was praised for balancing a mature story with juvenile humor, making it perfect for the whole family. However, before its release, the project’s filmmakers had trouble nailing down a distributor. Initially, they had struck a deal with Paramount Pictures, but things fell through when the company’s CEO changed. The creators next turned to 20th Century Studios, but their acquisition by the Walt Disney Company again raised concerns regarding distribution. Writer and director Sarah Smith called the acquisition “terrifying.” Luckily, Disney executives ended up approving the film.
#7: “The Book of Life” (2014)
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From “Shrek” to “How to Train Your Dragon,” DreamWorks Animation is responsible for some of the greatest contemporary children’s movies. Their roster could have included this beautifully animated feature if it weren’t for “creative differences.” In the end, it was produced and distributed by Reel FX and 20th Century Fox Animation. Having already co-created a cartoon for television, writer and director Jorge R. Gutierrez was very particular about the film’s art style. From the concept images onward, he ensured that the film was visually stunning. The final product is an impressive display of CGI.
#6: “Frozen” (2013)
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Walt Disney Animation Studios tried for a long time to make an adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s classic fairy tale, “The Snow Queen.” The company’s namesake himself first suggested the concept in 1940, but the studio decided the story wasn’t relatable. It was revisited in the 1990s during the Disney Renaissance, but was scrapped in 2002 when one of the animators left the project. Another attempt to adapt the tale began in 2008, but it didn’t get real traction until 2011. The project underwent a ton of changes - the characters, plot, and animation style all develop dramatically throughout the process. The final product is unlike anything the creators first imagined, and yet is a massive success.
#5: “The Emperor's New Groove” (2000)
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Development for a film named “Kingdom of the Sun” began during the Disney Renaissance. Motivated by the success of “The Lion King,” studio executives green-lit an epic story inspired by Inca culture. However, production dragged and the project was nearly shut down. After a complete overhaul, the story became a fast-paced buddy story full of slapstick comedy. With a new narrative, cast, and name, the final film made it to theaters six months after its intended release date. It might have been a nightmare to produce, but we love this Disney classic.
#4: “The Lion King” (1994)
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This wild movie is one of Disney’s greatest success stories. However, the classic we know and love is dramatically different from the film that was first pitched. The original director George Scribner wanted a documentary-style narrative and pushed against musical additions. Scribner ended up leaving the project, and no offense to him, but we’re kind of happy he did. We can’t imagine this movie without its soundtrack. Besides the music, plenty of changes were made to the story throughout production. For instance, Simba’s original arc didn’t require him to leave the kingdom as a cub. Rafiki was originally a cheetah instead of a mandrill. Sometimes, rejecting the parts of a film that aren’t working is for the best.
#3: “The Nightmare Before Christmas” (1993)
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Tim Burton was working for Disney when he wrote a three-page poem inspired by Christmas and Halloween. The animation studio considered adapting their employee’s original concept in 1982 but decided it didn’t suit their brand. They shelved the project, and later in 1984 fired Burton from his position. It wasn’t until 1990 that the writer discovered his previous employer had retained the film rights to his intellectual property. At that point, Burton had a few full-length features to his credit, and Disney executives were more willing to produce something with his name attached. They couldn't completely shake their doubts, however, and the stop motion feature was released under Touchstone Pictures. No one imagined the film would find the success it did.
#2: “The Secret of NIMH” (1982)
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Kid-friendly retellings of famous fairy tales and novels are Disney’s bread and butter. So it’s surprising to learn that in 1972, the studio turned down the rights to Robert C. O'Brien’s book “Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH.” Years later, a group of animators at the company, including Don Bluth, developed an interest in adapting the story. They discussed the project with company executives but were told that the narrative was too similar to “The Rescuers.” Having been shot down by his hire-ups, Bluth left Disney along with some of his peers. He established his own production company and directed his first feature film, “The Secret of NIMH.” The independent animated flick rivals those produced by the director’s former employer.
#1: “Toy Story” (1995)
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Studio executives and filmmakers alike saw the potential in this project, but narrative and contractual disagreements almost kept it from being made. Before development even began, director John Lasseter was fired from Disney for pitching a different fully computer-animated feature. He went on to help found Pixar and produce an Academy Award-winning short titled “Tin Toy.” Lasseter’s former employer expressed interest in adapting the short, but was resistant to allowing a picture to be made outside the studio. After messy negotiations, it was agreed that the film would be a co-production. Once in development, Disney executives suggested drastic changes to Pixar’s proposed story. It became a buddy comedy with new leads and a different ending. Certified 100% fresh, the final result is literally perfect.
