Animation Source Forums

You know, I've had an idea stuck in my head for some time. This may seem a bit farfetched, but what if Universal Studios were to produce a live movie of the real Balto. Now think about this, the cartoon is of course based on the true story (drr), but it does not follow what really had happened. If such a movie were to be produced and were to tell the real story... seriously, that sounds rather interesting to me, and it would surely interest many outside the Balto Fan Community. We know the animated Balto movies are doomed due to obviously poor advertising, besides the fact that the previous two were horrible compared to the first one (opinion). It's like starting completely over...sorta. New plot, new characters, but the same story. If this were to become a big hit, not only would it educate and remind people of the Famous Wolf-Dog Legend, but it would also spark to some people and they'll say, "hey, wasn't there a cartoon movie about this also? Hmm, gee, we should watch it!" Then, theoretically, it may just up the sales on Balto. But, like I said, a bit of an outcasted idea...
I'm a big fan of being different... lol
BTW- Do you think I should just make another thread about this "what if" topic?

I understand what you're saying, and you're right, it would probably dimolish the want to even watch the animated Balto. I never thought of it that way. However, it would be something to think about many years down the road IF there were to be no hope whatsoever for increasing the popularity of the animated movie (sorry I don't mean to be so harsh lol). Once the movie gets old, THEN they may want to consider it. For example, remember the old animated movie of "The Hobbit"? Well it got old of course, and forgotten, and so Peter Jackson came out with the whole entire Lord of the Rings trilogy. His movies did not strictly follow JRR Tolkien's novels either, but after the movie came out, BOOM whaddya know, everyone started reading the books and LOVED them by the way. If there were sadly to be no hope whatsoever for the animated Balto, which would be a shame, making a live movie of Balto would be the way to go, just like Peter Jackson did with Lord of the Rings. And then, just maybe there would be a chance for the animated Balto to increase in popularity. The movie would be so interesting to people who don't even know who Balto is, and they would want to learn more about him. When they find out that there is an animated Balto, they may just want to buy it for thier kids. And THEN, my friend, there would be a huge possibility for a Special Eddition DVD of the animated version, just like Disney does for many of their older animated movies (Jungle Book, Bambi, etc...) I really do see that being very possible...(opinion) The fact is, the animated version of "The Hobbit" was horrible (another opinion), but the animated Balto was not (fact lol). It was just horrible advertising and people just forgot about it, and that's where there's an advantage to making a live movie: advertisment. Whaddya think?

Not to mention you should all go to the hall of shame for spamming this topic.

Shame on you!

Universal Cartoon Studios has shuttered the long-running Land Before Time and continues with the popular Curious George, delighting the tots on PBS.

Land Before Time (series and features) is shut down. Its longtime director Charles Grovesnor has moved on to other projects.

Nothing (that I know of) re "Balto."

Don't have any e-mail contacts, I get my information by walking through the place.

Best,
Steve Hulett

Nothing about Balto either, but I won't say I'm really surprised - at least it confirms that they truly have nothing planned for Balto currently (and neither Land Before Time)
I think we can officially say this is the end of the Universal sequels, as we know them.

LBT has always been tangled with the Balto sequels in many ways

Yes, for a long time the new regime tried to kill the series, they did everything possible, released new ones in mid January instead of Christmas, (the videos) so they could say they were not selling as well, changed the series airing time on cartoon network several times so the poor little kids had to keep looking for it or lose interest. The first air time was for little toddlers and no weekends for older kids who would be very interested. Only true and rabid fans cared. The old true producing staff for these shows (LBT, Balto) were wonderful people professionally and personally. The new people that take over in this kind of case just want to dump all the old shows and put on edgier stuff, so it has their signature, and they want to pay the actors very little, and hope to pay them no residuals from sales as well. It is this same callousness and greed that has us in the current writers strike. It is sad.
Will let you know if we can find out anything. Anything is possible. If the "glorious" minds of the current crop of people in power think they can make a personal fortune by re starting or re-releasing something, they will.

Yes I am a bit cynical if you can't tell. I have heard and seen too much. I liked the simple days when there were really good people at Universal Animation. Now it seems all about them keeping money for themselves however they can. Even if Balto and LBT had more fans than any other shows they would not want to keep their finger on the pulse of what people want. They want to DRIVE people and steer them into wanting whatever it is the animation companies want to push.
Sad.

In this time and place of our lives, movie makers have adapted to computer animation to make movies for children. 3D characters replace hand-drawn characters in a trice and without hesitation. And movies once so adored and loved have been cast down from their fame for the sake of money and profit.

But when in the strongest of storms, light will always eventually find its way through the clouds of grey and dark. Let the people who value gold and riches over continuing enjoyment of others have their prizes. Let us continue the legacy we've always carried ever since Balto did the serum run, his fame created and remembered, a movie made in his honor, and when this website Balto Source was created: preserving, continuing, and spreading the memory of Balto--both real and animated, for both showed valor and courage against odds where even a human being would turn back or give up.

How do we continue this legacy?

From art, to stories, to music, to fan videos, to e books--each and everyone has a different way of preserving his/hers memory of Balto. You are the one who can discover your way of Balto's memoir.