With the success of THE LION KING 3D across the pond, it comes as no surprise to hear that Disney are lining up a further 4 animated films for 3D conversions. Released this Friday in the UK, THE LION KING 3D earned $29 million on its opening weekend and has evidently sparked a 3D trend at Disney Studios.
First up is the 1991 classic BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, release at the start of 2012. Based on the fairy tale ‘La Belle et la Bête’, the feature was the first ever animated film to be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. The film has grossed almost $348 million worldwide and has since seen a musical adaptation on Broadway.
Close behind is MONSTERS INC. 3D which also arrives January 2012 (just months before the release of upcoming prequel MONSTERS UNIVERSITY). Originally entering cinemas in 2001, the Pixar film grossed $525 million worldwide and was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Oscars.
September 2012 will see the release of FINDING NEMO 3D. Pixar’s follow-up to MONSTER’S INC., the feature won an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and has grossed over £867 million worldwide.
One year later, THE LITTLE MERMAID 3D will hit cinemas in September 2013. The oldest animated feature to be given a cinematic re-release, the underwater adventure debuted in 1989 and has since grossed £222 million worldwide. As with BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, the film has also seen a Broadway adaptation.
There are also rumours circulating that RATATOUILLE is to be given the 3D treatment in the near future, and I expect there will be many more announcements for re-releases to come.
THE LION KING 3D is released in UK cinemas this Friday.
Source: Bleeding Cool
