Fantasia of Disney wasn’t merely a toy commercial. It was a classic case of risk that redefined animation. It's like when quarterly earnings dictate every creative decision, you get sequels, reboots, and superhero fatigue.
I think the "expansions" are symptoms of a culture that’s forgotten how to mythologize. Instead of creating new legends, studios monetize nostalgia because it’s safer than confronting the unknown.
There is a way for studios to balance art and business without losing their soul, but it requires a recalibration of values. It’s possible, but only if leadership has the courage to say, “We will lose money on this, because it matters.” That’s a sacrificial act, and sacrifice is the essence of integrity. But our culture today worships convenience, not courage objectively speaking.
Studios feed audiences candy because they’ve lost the taste for steak, then blame the audience for having sweet teeth. But that’s highly mistaken. People just crave meaning. Look at the success of Oppenheimer, a three-hour talkie about moral decay.
It’s proof that when you treat viewers as intelligent beings, they’ll rally, right? That's why the task isn’t to scorn the expansions but to demand that studios earn their empires by creating something worth expanding for.
