Research


 * Sotha**
 * how disney has censored in the past
 * controversial marvel content
 * disney-movie contracts - when old contracts expire, Will Disney make all Marvel movies?


 * Gary**
 * disney history- nazi sympathizers, subtle sexual themes
 * other Disney acquisitions- i.e Pixar-what Disney acquisition will mean for fans in general- for Disney fans and for Marvel fans.


 * Anna**
 * what Disney's acquisition of Marvel will mean for other companies who hold Marvel interests.
 * past examples of acquisitions of companies- paramount selling Wonderland.

THINGS TO CONSIDER / MENTION:
Disney is on its way to attaining creative monopoly over the entertainment industry. Disney is mostly based on family-friendly entertainment. By buying out Marvel, they are trying to diversify their brand by branching out to more genres. i.e. Superhero Squad series - could have been created with Disney intentions in mind. An "audition" to show Disney ...

//n.//
 * Manifest destiny**
 * 1) A policy of imperialistic expansion defended as necessary or benevolent.
 * 2) often **Manifest Destiny** The 19th-century doctrine that the United States had the right and duty to expand throughout the North American continent.

ARTISTIC INTEGRITY VS CORPORATE PROFITS:

 * Purely business driven - Disney pumps out this media for people to buy. By buying Marvel, they acquire rights to all the merchandise.
 * Too much power - doesn't ignite creative sparks from other companies. Stifling creativity?
 * GOAL - to make money? or to make creative pieces?
 * By having deeper pockets, Marvel can saturate the market with miscellaneous products, etc, it can water down the original content and alienate the loyal fan base.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR OTHER COMPANIES HOLDING MARVEL INTERESTS:
[] []
 * Paramount - still holds rights to distribute up to five Marvel films, including //Iron Man 2, Thor, Captain America, The Avengers,//and possibly one more unannounced film. Disney’s acquisition does notaffect the deals for movies in place at other movie studios, such as **//Spider-Man//** and **//X-Men//** at 20th Century Fox.
 * However, after the deals expire, Disney wants to be the SOLE distributor.
 * All of the creative control will remain in the hands of the people who know the Marvel Universe best: the people at Marvel.
 * Pixar - may become involved in developing films.
 * Disney - changes to Marvel theme parks?, characters?
 * Existing licensing and distribution deals should remain where they are.
 * Disney emphasizes the "hands-off relationship" they have had with Pixar, and trusts that Marvel will make the right decisions.
 * **Disney finds working as one company with Marvel removes friction and creates value that’s very compelling.** Licensing offers very attractive opportunities, but nothing is better than being one. International expansion of Marvel properties through Disney was cited as a potential growth area.
 * Cable channel Disney XD is currently running about 20 hours a week of Marvel content and Disney has been looking to license more Marvel content and this deal gives them that opportunity as well as **the opportunity to expose these characters internationally.**
 * With respect to Paramount’s distribution deal with Marvel and the Iron Man franchise, Disney has every intention to respect the deal that’s in place, but noted that **it’s in their best interest, over time, to become the sole distributor of Marvel films.** []
 * Disney3D be used for Marvel movies?
 * Potential for cross-polination between Marvel and Pixar.
 * Disney said this deal is expected to **benefit Marvel’s retail efforts, being able to leverage Disney’s shelf space and relationships with major chains and distributors.**
 * Disney noted that they believe in the creative team at Marvel and see no reason to upset that applecart.
 * Disney has not made any real estate decisions and sees no reason to move Marvel Studios from their headquarters in Manhattan Beach, California. No mention of Marvel Publishing’s offices in New York City was made.

COMPARISONS / PAST EXAMPLES:
(i.e. Theme parks? Marvel is based on Universal Studios. How will this be affected?)
 * Warner Bros' acquisition of DC Comics.
 * Time Warner's acquisition of AOL - Warner bought AOL thinking they needed to expand a lateral acquisition that has nothing to do with its own specific field (nothing to do with communications. AOL Time Warner brand became so saturated that it failed.
 * Cedar Fair's acquisition of Paramount Canada's Wonderland
 * Several rides were renamed []
 * "Cedar Fair's current business model (albeit successful) seems to contain an utter refusal to develop themed areas and rides" (ThemeParkInsider)
 * The **Wonderland Theatre** in Medieval Faire was called //The [|Paramount] Theatre// prior to the sale of [|Canada's Wonderland] to[|Cedar Fair]. It was originally called //The Canterbury Theatre//when it was built. The date of the name change was during the 2008 season. The original name was changed at an unknown date.
 * **[|Back Lot Stunt Coaster]** was called //Italian Job: Stunt Track// until after the 2007 season, due to [|Viacom]'s sale of the park to Cedar Fair.
 * **[|Flight Deck]** was called //Top Gun// until after the 2007 season due to Viacom's sale of the park to Cedar Fair.
 * **Riptide** was called //Cliffhanger// until after the 2007 season due to Viacom's sale of the park to Cedar Fair.
 * **Time Warp** was called //Tomb Raider: The Ride// until after the 2007 season due to Viacom's sale of the park to Cedar Fair.
 * **Drop Tower** was called //Drop Zone// until after the 2007 season due to Viacom's sale of the park to Cedar Fair.
 * **Granny's Sweets** in the Scoobyville section of Hanna-Barbera Land was renamed **Scooby's Snacks** in July 2008.

DISNEY PAST CENSORSHIP:
Disney has met controversy in the past with some questionable censorship issues. Disney has gained a reputation as having a tight hold over its content and intellectual properties. A particular event that stands out was Disney’s decision to censor its characters that had been painted on a daycare center’s walls. Disney threatened legal action against the daycare because the characters that were painted on the wall bared a strong resemblance to Mickey Mouse. A Disney lawyer stated that “...a nursery school is no less a profit-making enterprise just because little children are involved” []

In 2004, Disney blocked the distribution of Miramax’s film Fahrenheit 9/11. Miramax, a subsidiary of Disney had produced the controversial film directed by Michael Moore. The film had to do with the Bush family and their close ties to the Saudi royal family. It also describes how the relatives of Osama bin Laden were flow out of the United States shortly after the September 11 attacks that took place in 2001. []

REACTIONS:

 * Majority of comments are negative. Loyal fans have the same general reaction - all worried about creative control.
 * Stan Lee says the strengths of each company fit perfectly with **the other’s needs:** <span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">“Nobody can produce and market franchises better than Disney, and nobody has the extensive library of characters that would make great franchises that Marvel has,” Lee said. ( http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32645353/ns/business-media_biz/)

INTERESTING LINKS:
People's Reaction to MARVEL & DISNEY 10 QUESTIONS the Marvel/Disney Acquisition Raises DISNEY ACQUIRES MARVEL Jobs and Iger comment on Disney's acquisition of Pixar History of Pixar and Disney's acquisition