January 18, 2024
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Living
Looking To Tomorrow (An Overview of 100 years of Disney)
By: Kim Mead
Entertainment is a hound that has dwelled in the home of humanity for as long as houses have existed. From oral storytelling amongst family to Shakespearean plays in public, all the way to the invention of the television and the corporate rise of Hollywood; people have been seeking out ways to entertain themselves, and will likely never stop.
In America, the entertainment industry is a cultural cornerstone, and directly influences the trends of passing decades. It’s unavoidable, and ingrained in our minds and speech.
One of the most influential media conglomerates in America is The Walt Disney Company, colloquially referred to as Disney. For the last 100 years, it has spearheaded the animation industry. Their adaptations of popular fairytales are what brought them into the limelight, but their most famous character, Mickey Mouse, remains their mascot.
It is a common misconception that Mickey was first introduced in the animated short “Steamboat Willie” from 1928, but this was simply the first short he appeared in that featured synchronized sound. His design had been used before that in other disney shorts, even though this is the one he is remembered for.
On January 1st, 2024, the original image of Mickey Mouse entered the public domain after 96 years. This means that the copyright for the character has expired, and people are free to copy and reproduce images of Mickey without retribution.
So, what does this mean for disney?
It honestly does not mean much in the long run. They still own the trademark for the mouse, as well as a million other properties including Pixar, Marvel, 21st Century Fox, Lucasfilm, ESPN, National Geographic and more. They will not suffer financially because of this, and they can still continue making money from their parks and their animated films.
Disney is known for their films. With the legacy of the Disney Princess lineup, and films like the Lion King and Frozen under their belt, it is no secret that Disney knows their way around storytelling. But how do their new films stack up against their old ones? After 100 years, is Disney still the leading animation studio?
Let’s consider it;
There are 8 distinct eras of Disney animation: The Golden Age (1937-1942), The Wartime Era (1942-1949), The Silver Age (1950-1967), The Bronze Age (1970-1977), The Dark Ages (19 81-1988), The Renaissance (1989-1999) , The Experimental Era (1999-2008), and the Revival Era (2009 – present time).
All of these time periods are distinct because of the movies they produced and the values they reflect. It is interesting to note though, while most eras seem to fall on a ten year timespan, the most recent era; The Revival Era, represents the last fifteen years of Disney animation.
Is this indicative of the future of this company? Are they running out of ideas for original films or are they simply too comfortable to consider changing their methods of production? Only time will tell.
In the meantime we can consider why the past few years of Disney have seemed uninspired compared to past eras of the company.
To start, since 1994, Disney has released twenty-one live action remakes of their previous films. Sixteen of those films were made after 2014 and eighteen of them were released during the Revival Era. This lends to the feeling that modern Disney is less about imagination and magic, and more about trying to cash in on older viewer’s nostalgia by trying to remake something that already performed well.
This is exacerbated by the fact that a live action version of the movie Moana is in the works, despite the fact that the original only came out in 2016.
Another reason modern Disney might seem stale is that creators of the films are often creatively stifled by the bigwigs of corporate Disney. They attempt to make everything they release as widely accessible to as many demographics as possible.
Disney show runners in their television animation department, like Alex Hirsch and Dana Terrace, have spoken out many times about the cutthroat nature of the company. They often speak of their difficulties working with the standard’s and practicing team (S&P) at Disney.
The combination of corporate greed and creative oppression have led to the modern era of Disney feeling more unimaginative with each passing year. Or at least, that’s what it feels like. In truth, there have been many recent Disney films that showcase interesting premises and original ideas, such as Elemental (2023), Strange World (2022), and Wish (2023).
The real problem lies in authenticity and marketing. Most, if not all, of those films were barely marketed to audiences, and while their animation was beautiful, many people don’t think that Disney is trying anymore. Their scripts are bland and their stories feel overdone and too familiar. For Wish specifically, they have been accused of using Artificial Intelligence to write some pieces of it.
This claim is unproven, but not entirely unfounded considering the movie’s release followed the Writer’s Guild of America (WGA) strike. Producer’s might have decided that artificial writing was better than having to argue with someone who could think for themselves.
The next step after not paying writers enough and creatively suffocating them, would be to cut them out of the creative process altogether. During the strikes, Disney CEO Bob Iger himself went on record and said that “There’s a level of expectation that [The WGA] have, that is just not realistic. And they are adding to the set of the challenges that this business is already facing that is, quite frankly, very disruptive.”
One of the biggest hits to Disney’s formula of production is the shift from theatrical release to their streaming platform Disney+. Suddenly, ticket sales are not the only method for judging a film’s success and they don’t always reflect the total worth of the movie created.
But should the worth of a movie be judged by how much money it makes?
Film is a form of art and animation takes that a step further. It is a collaboration of creative minds joining together to bring a story to life on a screen. It is a way of storytelling that transcends the written or spoken word, and it is a criminally underappreciated medium.
Disney is an example of a company being birthed with a goal in mind, to make magic real. However, the company has slowly morphed into something unrecognizable to itself. Modern Disney cannot recreate the magic it once held because the people who run it no longer believe in that magic.
This doesn’t spell the end of animation though, far from it actually. It simply means that whatever journey the medium takes in 2024, will be headed by companies other than that of the mouse. Studios like Netflix, Sony, Paramount, Dreamworks, and Universal are showing that animation is a viable method of storytelling, and is more than just a cheap cash grab for children’s entertainment.
It’s been 100 years since Disney was founded. A hundred years of art and wonder. A hundred years of storytelling and magic brought to life on the screen. From the beginning, when each frame was painstakingly hand-drawn to the invention of CGI animation to more creative drive and inspiration, the art form continues to change every year.
Disney as a company might have fallen from grace, and they may never reach the same heights as the past, but there is still hope. Hope for the artists, for the writers, for the people who grew up believing in magic and haven’t stopped, and hope for the future of animation.
To put it simply;
“Of all of our inventions for mass communication, pictures still speak the most universally understood language.” – Walt Disney
Sources:
“All 8 Disney Animation Eras, Ranked.” CBR, 9 January 2024, https://www.cbr.com/disney-animation-all-eras-ranked/#the-silver-age-effectively-saved-disney-from-financial-ruin. Accessed 15 January 2024.
“List of Disney theatrical animated feature films.” Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Disney_theatrical_animated_feature_films. Accessed 15 January 2024.
Yeo, Amanda. “’Gravity Falls’ creator Alex Hirsch shares his struggles with Disney’s censorship with hilarious dramatic reading.” Mashable, 17 June 2022, https://mashable.com/article/gravity-falls-disney-censorship-alex-hirsch. Accessed 15 January 2024.
The Golden Globes
By: Hannah Simcic
2023 was a year filled with some of the biggest movies produced yet with Oppenheimer, Barbie, and more. The 81st Golden Globes, meant to honor and award artists for their wonderful works.
The first ever Golden Globes was on January 20, 1944. The winners were Paul Lukas, for Watch on the Rhine as Kurt Muller, Jennifer Jones, for The Song of Bernadette, Akim Tamiroff for Whom the Bell Toll as Pablo, Katinia Paxinou, for Whom the Bell Tolls as Pilae, and lastly Henry King, for The Song of Bernadette.
Meryl Streep is said to be the “ruling queen of the globes” with a total of 9 awards.
Barbra Streisand has the most nominations of all time.
As the Golden Globes has gained it’s popularity through the years there came more and more awards given out, this year there was a total of 27 different awards presented across the 25 different categories.
Some of the biggest awards consist of Oppenheimer, receiving 5 awards, Barbie with 2 wins, in which one was receiving the first ever Golden Globe for cinematic and box office success, and Succession with a total of 4 wins overall.
The most nominated film this year was Barbie with a total of 9 nominations.
On the more controversial side of things, for the kick off of the awards Jo Koy, this year’s host, started with a chaotic introduction. Many say that he took this privilege and threw it down the drain, while others take the view that he’s a comedian so of course he’s going to make jokes about it.
Who will next year’s host be and what does it hold for next year’s nominees?
Leaps & Bounds- The History of Leap Years
By: Andrew Ellis
Leap Year. Everyone knows what it is, but we only think about it once every four years. A typical year is known to have 365 days, however, Earth takes 365.25 days to revolve around the sun. This is why we add that extra day every four years on February 29.
However, it is not exactly 365.25 days; the Earth actually revolves ever so slightly slower. Because of this, including one more year every four years ends up creating three more days in a period of 400 years. According to ThoughtCo., “For this reason, only one out of every four century years is considered a leap year. Centuries are only considered a leap year if they are divisible by 400.”
The original idea that we get a leap year comes from Julius Caesar in 45 BCE. Caesar initially wanted seasonal festivals to occur at the same time every year, so the Roman solution was to add or subtract a day from a month every year.
However, when Pope Gregory XIII adjusted the calendar in 1582, he changed it so that leap years would occur every four years rather than adding or subtracting a day every year.
Many cultures view leap years very differently, some see it positively and some negatively. According to EarthSky, women in medieval Ireland and Scotland could propose to men, but if they were rejected, the men would have to pay them a fine. Also, the Greeks, Scottish, and Germans generally viewed the entirety of a leap year as somewhat unlucky.
Now, many people celebrate the day and enjoy it to the fullest. A newspaper in Paris publishes a new paper once every four years on leap year full of satire and comics.
Sources:
Bates, Michael D., and Michael Bates. “Fun facts about leap year | Local News | chronicleonline.com.” Citrus County Chronicle, 28 February 2020, https://www.chronicleonline.com/news/local/fun-facts-about-leap-year/article_c9e0b45e-5a42-11ea-85ae-27c616231ef7.html. Accessed 16 January 2024.
“Best leap year superstitions and traditions from around the world.” The Independent, 2 January 2024, https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/leap-year-superstitions-traditions-b2472338.html. Accessed 16 January 2024.
Conners, Deanna. “Leap years: Why 2022 isn’t one.” EarthSky, 27 February 2022, https://earthsky.org/human-world/why-do-we-need-leap-years/. Accessed 16 January 2024.
“The History of Leap Year.” ThoughtCo, 2 January 2021, https://www.thoughtco.com/history-of-leap-year-1989846. Accessed 16 January 2024.
Sports
Wrestling Update
By: Cooper Wingate
The Falcon Wrestling team made their home debut on Wednesday, battling against our conference rivals: Bishop McGuinness and Carver High School. As the returning conference champions, the Falcons entered both matches with a target on their back but wrestled hard, going 2-0 on the day. The team also celebrated their seniors, Will Blake and team manager Will Swisher. Will Blake had a productive day, picking up a first period pin against Bishop McGuinness.
“The team knew they had some tough matches ahead of them,” Will Swisher said about the match, “but we still gave it our all and came out on top in both our matchups.” Swisher, a former wrestler, has managed the team and their social media accounts this season, traveling with them to away meets and tournaments. “I wrestled on and off throughout middle school and high school, but I never lost my love for the sport. It’s nice being able to help out the wrestlers and support the team.”
The team is traveling to Bishop on Wednesday the 17th for the conference championship, where they will also be facing Wesleyan Christian Academy. Make sure to show up and support your Falcon Wrestlers!
Photo credits: Mista G Photography
Inside the NCLA
Winter Break In Review
By: Kaitlyn Parker
The NCLA student body was busy over Christmas break. From traveling to see family to staying at home and watching TV, break was full of rest and fun for NCLA high schoolers.
Some of our peers took trips to visit family for the holidays. Freshman Caroline Weigel said, “Over break I visited a lot of family. We have family in New Jersey so that was really fun.” She had the opportunity to travel to Asheville for Christmas and then New Jersey for New Years. She said she enjoyed it because she got to spend time with cousins.
Senior Matthew Seiwert said, “I went down to South Carolina to visit my mom’s side of the family. I got to hang out with my cousin who is actually in the Navy right now. It was pretty cool, so I finally got to connect with him after all these years.” The best part of the holidays can be connecting with family and friends you do not get to see as often.
Others got to spend time with their families without the travel. Junior Caleigh Buwalda said she got together with her family and spent time with her brother; “I got stuff to try out for softball… me and my brother (he plays baseball)… we’ve been practicing.”
Many students spent time over the break at their churches. Sophomore Maria Pizarro said, “I had a couple church events like Christmas Eve service. We had a Christmas party with the youth group and that was pretty fun.” Caleigh Buwalda said, “I had a lock-in with my youth group and I stayed up all night.Everybody did except for one person.” Over the Christmas season there were many things going on at local churches that many of our peers were a part of.
Spending time around your school can be another way to spend the break, especially when you’re involved in sports and other activities. Brianna Ross said she stayed in town and, “Took in-car with Mr. Campbell. He’s so lovely. My partner was Ryas Ferguson. He almost killed us. He ran over the curb in McDonald’s, but it’s okay.” Sophomore Brooke Swigert also stayed in town. She said she, “Did nothing other than play basketball all of break, for the school.”
Many students are involved in different activities or don’t have family to see which makes traveling hard, but they still find time to enjoy their break from school. Junior Alyson Carter was able to hang out locally for Christmas before traveling for New Years and said, “One of the Saturdays before Christmas, my mom got my ears pierced. I was so excited.”
Junior Isabel Maglio also spent Christmas locally. Her family got creative and wrapped presents for their dog. She said, “We wrapped it all up and we tried making him open it, but he didn’t understand.” There are always fun ways to stay entertained when you embrace your creativity.
Sadly some of the high school students were sick over break. Kaitlyn Taylor said she got Covid-19 over break, and Rebekah Franks was sick and spent time recovering in her bed. However, even these students found joy in the relaxation and got to spend time enjoying their time and their new gifts.
Many students spent their breaks excited about their new gifts. Junior Emma Burns said her favorite thing she got was tickets to go, “See Noah Kahan with Kaitlyn Taylor.”
Senior Christopher Cornejo said he got to spend time with his gifts and exploring his hobbies as he worked with model kit building.
Whether our students were staying local, spending time traveling, or just resting the winter break was a much needed time away from school as everyone prepared for the full schedule that comes with the second semester.
To Achieve or Not to Achieve, That Is the Question
By: Wenda McLaurin
The New Year brings in new goals and aspirations for millions around the world. This is no different for the students at NCLA, a diverse group of leaders and achievers. I asked around at the NCLA to find out people’s goals and motivations for the new year.
Arthur Merchant, a sophomore at the NCLA, shared his thoughts and resolutions for the year of 2024; “I do have a New Year’s resolution, which is to work more on writing (like stories and screenplays). I want to do this because it’s something I hope to do as a career in the future.” He says that he’s motivated to do this because it’s something he’s interested in, and something that he enjoys.
Allee Davis, a junior at the NCLA, talks about bettering herself as an athlete, and how she’s planning to adapt in the future. She talks about what she’s planning to let go of, and reflects on last year; “I am really planning on letting go of a lot of anxiety from last year. It has not only affected my mental health, but also my performance in soccer, one of my favorite things in the entire world.” She felt disappointed with herself at the end of the season, but she realizes that she has to have confidence in herself in the future, and to realize what she’s truly capable of! She adds, “With school soccer starting up soon, I aim for this goal to change my mindset and get ready for our upcoming practices and games.”
Carsyn Queen, a senior at the NCLA, explains her resolutions, and is indefinitely motivated to achieve her goals. She wants to be consistent with working out, drinking water, and actually using her planner (what a universal idea)! She’s looking forward to this year.
As students of the NCLA, we can all agree that we want to work on bettering ourselves as a whole, and not only for the New Year. Truly, this will be a wonderful and monumental year for all of us, and there’s definite excitement of what’s to come in the future.
ACE VANDERSLICE, 11TH GRADE
Twisted Trinket Tray
[Ace] made this [their] freshman year and wanted to create something that reflected [their] aesthetic. This was [their] first attempt at ceramics. Now, [they] use it everyday for holding [their] jewelry!