We don't need Pixar quite as badly as everyone thought.' (Unintelligible) say that, `Well, gosh, look how we did all by ourselves. MASTERS: In fact, Vogel thinks "Chicken Little" will not just give Disney a morale boost and generate a lot of money, it will also give the company a bargaining chip as it attempts to reestablish its now ruptured relationship with Pixar. HAROLD VOGEL (Entertainment Industry Analyst): I think the key to it is the cuteness factor of "Chicken Little." They have just made it very cute, and cute counts for a lot. MASTERS: Entertainment industry analyst Harold Vogel has seen parts of the movie, too, and he thinks "Chicken Little" will be a hit. It's, you know, just like now, you know, the leader is following everybody else's lead. JIM HILL: It's so clearly influenced by "Shrek," and, likewise, the Pixar films. He's seen parts of "Chicken Little" and thinks it's a nice little movie but not the blockbuster that Disney needs. DreamWorks made "Shrek" and "Madagascar." Fox produced "Ice Age" and "Robots." Jim Hill is a self-described Disney geek whose Web site tracks all things Disney. It made money on a string of hits produced by its then-partners at Pixar, including "Finding Nemo" and "The Incredibles." But Pixar has split from Disney, and, meanwhile, other rivals came onto the field of play. Meanwhile, computer-generated animation took off and Disney was not in the game. MASTERS: Traditional hand-drawn films like "Brother Bear" and "Home on the Range" didn't perform well. DAVID STAINTON (Disney Animation): We've had some fallow years and I think that this is the first movie of, you know, a whole new period for us. David Stainton, the head of Disney Animation, says "Chicken Little," arguably the company's first homegrown computer-animated film, will be a turning point. It's being seen as a test of Disney's once-vaunted animation prowess after several difficult years. MASTERS: "Chicken Little" may be a small bird but the movie has become a big deal. ZAHN: (As Runt of the Litter) What? I'm sorry. STEVE ZAHN: (As Runt of the Litter) Band-Aid solutions? JOAN CUSACK: (As The Ugly Duckling) Runt, should Chicken Little have a good talk with his dad and clear the air or keep searching for Band-Aid solutions and never deal with the problem? This time, for instance, the protagonist gets updated advice on his credibility problem from his best pals: The Ugly Duckling and a very big pig called Runt of the Litter. It's safe to say that Disney's version of "Chicken Little" is a new riff on old material. It features the voices of Zach Braff and Garry Marshall, and, for the Walt Disney Company, a great deal is riding on the back of this little chicken. The animated film "Chicken Little," opens next Friday. Today we focus on your money, spending on candy and the movies.
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