Do you ever look at something and think to yourself…”right, here is a missed opportunity.” You feel like constructing a long letter to somebody high up in a company and telling them “hey buddy, you’re missing a trick!” When it comes to Michael I often feel this way and really think if I had any free time, it would be spent penning letters in the aforementioned style.
One idea that’s been floating around in my head that bugs me like crazy is the wasted opportunities for Captain Eo. It really seems that Disney and the Estate have yet to seize the moment and make Captain Eo become what it’s destined to be. Below is my outline for a strategy that would allow Captain Eo to rule the galaxy:
Release the DVD
Ok so this one is kind of a given. If ever there was a time to release this DVD it’s now, as 3D television continues to take over households around the world. It can finally be viewed the way it was meant to be, all from the comfort of your own living room!
Captain Eo: The Animated Movie
Using the original voices and score from the movie, Disney could create an animated version of the movie, allowing ‘Eo’ to become an infamous Disney cartoon character. The movie could serve as the catalyst for….
Captain Eo: The TV Series
What is really hot at the moment? Superheroes! Thanks to the Avengers, Spider-Man, Thor, Iron Man etc, and who owns that? Disney! Who also owns Lucas Films? Disney! So this option is literally staring them in the face. Create a Captain Eo animated TV series for the Disney channel, where Eo and his companions travel the galaxy taking out bad guys and spreading joy. Use ‘We Are Here To Change The World’ as the theme tune and you’re sorted. In turn this would help develop a legion of new young fans in both Eo and Michael!
Merchandise, Merchandise, Merchandise
If you’ve ever been to a Disney store you’ll have borne witness to how Disney have this fantastic ability to merchandise the hell out of all their entities. Imagine a line of Captain Eo dolls, stuffed toys, books, space ships, t-shirts, space suit dressing up sets… The possibilities are endless!
The Soundtrack
A joint Epic-Disney release of the CD soundtrack album would see Eo lovers enjoy the gripping composition as well as ‘Another Part of Me’ and ‘We are here to change the world’. They could of course advertise the Bad album in the booklet and, hey presto, cross-promotion is achieved.
Obviously in order to take Eo beyond the original movie they would have to use a sound-alike for the TV series, but that’s the same for any mainstream Disney movies that are serialised, as is also usually the case with sequel movies.
The results of this plan would see a character that Michael loved to play continue to reach a global audience and bring joy to children all around the world. Imagine his response if you told him that. The Estate continually explore avenues to appeal to a younger audience, but should not use the likes of Bieber! Give the kids a character to look up to, give them Eo and in return they’ll come to love Michael.
Disney, if you’re reading this, drop me an email….it’s time to talk!
Pez Jax
Follow Pez on twitter @Pezdann
This article was taken from Iconic Magazine Issue 18 – Superhero
Brilliant idea Pez. go for it. It seems the most obvious thing to promote, the Estate needs people like you who have a vision.