Pokemon and Mononoke

[tim.iles@utoronto.ca]

I would tend to agree with Dr. Desser's opinion about Disney deliberately
holding back Mononoke Hime, especially considering the next Disney/Pixar
blockbuster, Toy Story 2, is due shortly--all of their attention must
surely be focussed on this film, with its lucrative marketing tie-ins.
However, this is probably less "sinister" a case than it might appear,
being undoubtedly based on a bean-counter's sense of what's appropriate
for a "foreign" film. Pokemon provides further corollary for this--the
video game "Pokemon" is quite popular, and so name-recognition is high.
The only justification for a film based on a video game has to be monetary
return on investment, after all. (No matter how "snobbish" this might
sound! ;) )


Timothy Iles