Animation Source Forums

In some of my recent posts, I have discussed my views between Toy Story and Balto in theaters. Seeing the large numbers Toy Story brought in and the much less Balto brought in, I want to know: Could Balto have done better in theaters?

Anyones input?

The only ways Balto could have done better in theaters was if it was better advertised like Toy Story and was released at a time when it didn't have to compete with Toy Story or other major animated films. Heck, if Toy Story was released a month earlier or Balto came out a month later, I'm sure it would have made WAY better revenue at the box office. But unfortunately, the damage has already been done.

Unfortunately, it was not well-advertised and promoted. That is the source of the problem. There is a lot to be said for when a movie is released, what it is released against (what other movies are being released in the same general time period), and how much effort is spent on advanced promotion and advertising.

However, there's been a lot of interest in the actual historical serum run of late, and some upcoming stuff in the works (a movie based on the book "The Cruelest Miles" and a documentary on the serum run). This should stimulate some interest in Balto, and maybe...just MAYBE, Universal will recognize this and do something for their Balto properties. It would be ideal for them to do so, and a good chance to re-energize the franchise.

IF they don't screw it up or ignore it.

I remember when Toy Story 2 came out in 1999. The 3rd sequel didnt come out until 2010. I wonder if Universal is doing something related to that.

What in the world was wrong with Toy Story? It happened to be a very good animated movie.

I never said you said you hated it, dude. Stop jumping to conclusions and relax.

don't worry, i am.

They aren't going to be doing something similar.

The difference with both franchises is that Toy Story and Toy Story 2 were huge successes due to being well advertised. And because they were both a huge success, they still remained very popular films well after they were released. So obviously, Pixar didn't have to generate much interest in the previous movies to help promote the third.

Balto however was not a success at the box office due to poor advertising and being overshadowed by Toy Story, and because of that, not much interest was generated for the film, which is why it's not well known today. And making a sequel to a movie that's not well known is bound to be a flop at the box office! The only reason the sequels came out were due to high VHS sales.

Therefore, if Universal wanted to make a Balto 4, they'd have to promote the previous films in any way possible to to ensure the next movie won't be a flop. And all that costs money!

I actually vaguely remember the commercials when the original Balto movie came out. I remember at the time I was not interested, however in hindsight I do wish I had gone to see it.

Trying to compete with the likes of Disney and Pixar in the box office is a difficult endeavor. That previous year Disney had released the Lion King, which was a hug success in the theaters. I am not sure if waiting a couple of months would have improved Balto's draw in the box office or not. Perhaps if they had released January or February of 1996?

I feel that there was more that Amblimation could have done to make the movie better, though. There were several parts of the plot that were cut from the final movie. Steele was supposed to lose the Golden Collar, Balto was supposed to slip on a barrel and crash into the hardware store (I have heard this, though I have not seen any of the storyboards for this). There was more they could have done to improve the plot. It almost seems as if Amblimation decided they were not going to throw everything into it 3/4 of the way through. I know it was their last film, and that Spielberg went on to form Dreamworks, but I feel there was a little more they could have done in the development and marketing areas of the movie.

You are correct, of course, but with Spielberg's name behind it, and Amblimation's other previous works, you'd think it would have been more of a draw, and more marketable. However, since this was Amblimation's last project, it is probable that their hearts weren't in it as much as in the previous works, if they knew that this was their swan song, as it were.

You really think that Jersey? That's a pretty good idea on why it wasn't worked on so well...

It's a theory. Nothing more. I have no other information which could either confirm or refute it.