Now Introducing HBO Max Classic

[metaphysician]

I know how large it is. That doesn't change the fact it's one of the worst publishers in the business and is a cancer on the industry. Someone needs to buy it, and begin fixing it.

And Acti Blizz lay people off regularly. A merger may result in fewer layoffs and allow employees to transfer to other parts of Microsoft. Won't really know until it happens.

Honestly, as bad as the corporate culture inside Activision-Blizzard is, I can scarcely imagine the Microsoft purchase doing any harm. Maybe they will improve things ( via firing the worst people at the top, say ), but they can scarcely make it worse. And Microsoft does generally take a longer term view than many companies, that alone should be a mild beneficial influence at the least.

 

[Pennywise]

HBO Max and Cartoon Network Cancels Another Animated Original

 

[Lily Adler]

I foresee animation talent will vacate CN in the near future.

 

[MOVIELORD101]

I can see the boot getting into position.........

 

[Pennywise]

 

[Still Wynning]

I can see a lot of these animated projects being shopped at places like Netflix or Amazon. Regardless of what you may think of their current practices, at least they still seem to support and value animation in some capacity.

 

[Sithborg]

I can see the boot getting into position.........

Yeah, that tends to be where the shareholders get angry.

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

Like all the writers at WWE under Vince McMahon, everyone at WB is writing for an audience of one (or two people): David Zaslav (and John Malone).

If David Zasalv doesn't personally 'get it' (or the money benefit from it), you are dead.

He'll continue to rip the copper out of the house until somebody else takes it off their hands.

 

[Arachnerd]

I can see the boot getting into position.........

Gee, I wonder why. Totally couldn't be because he scrapped a nearly completed film and pretty much disrespectfully purged a great majority of animated shows for more tax write-offs, thus totally not putting god knows how many animators out of a job. Nope, can't tell why.

 

[-Arya-]

Upsetting but totally predictable.

 

[Kane52630]

 

[Arachnerd]

Zaslav's raging hatred for animation continues.

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

As for their stock, they are $55B in debt and Zaslav promised investors to get rid of $3B soon, leaving them with $52B in debt and no solid growth strategy but wishful thinking (or really getting eaten by a bigger fish that can absorb all that debt.)

 

[MOVIELORD101]

Why does he hate cartoons so much? This is ridiculous.

 

[-Arya-]

Just waiting to hear about the removal of Samurai Jack, Dexter’s Lab, Primal and Looney Tunes…

 

[Snow Queen]

Zaslav's raging hatred for animation continues.

There's only one explanation: a toon killed his brother.

 

[Arachnerd]

Just waiting to hear about the removal of Samurai Jack, Dexter’s Lab, Primal and Looney Tunes…

Sadly, same.

Reposting @Comicbookguy339 's post from the Caped Crusader thread since it's relevant here:

 

[Shinobi Shaw]

Just waiting to hear about the removal of Samurai Jack, Dexter’s Lab, Primal and Looney Tunes…

And that's when I'm completely ripping up my subscription. I am 32 years old, grew up on Dexter's Lab, I watch it half the time on HBO Max as background noise. Same with the classic Looney Tunes.

 

[Ninjablade]

The vitriol for animation is so saddening. Such a wonderful medium that continues to be devalued.

 

[Lily Adler]

‘Last Week Tonight’ Host John Oliver Criticizes HBO Max – The Hollywood Reporter

 

[Ninjablade]

 

[Lily Adler]

Shopping around is definitely code for it's too far into production to cancel, but it'll most likely end up on Prime.

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

Batgirl Director Tried to Salvage Cancelled Movie With His Smartphone
The Batgirl director has revealed that he tried to capture some footage of the film on his phone after its cancelation.

Sadly, when Fallah went on the server, "everything was gone," including all of the scenes with Michael Keaton's Batman:

 

[Lily Adler]

Batgirl Director Tried to Salvage Cancelled Movie With His Smartphone
The Batgirl director has revealed that he tried to capture some footage of the film on his phone after its cancelation.

So did they just delete the film or just moved it to another server?

 

[Marvolo]

So did they just delete the film or just moved it to another server?

If the tax write off requires it never see the light of day deleting it may have been a requirement. Similar to burning filmstock in the old days.

Or Zaslav is a petty bastard and deleted it and shut the server down. For all we know he could be selling and eliminating hardware studio assets like servers too. That could be why they are removing large swaths of their digital library.