@Penguin Dragneel
To be fair, I think we miss 2d nowadays but in 2001, I think people saw 2d as wearing out its welcome.
I have a feeling in 1999 when Toy Story 2 and Tarzan both were popular, but I can’t help but think the latter was sort of seen as being part of an old and dying trend just like westerns when the 70s came. For sure Tarzan was loved but it was not some universal classic like Lion King. But Toy Story 2 represented the future.
It might also be people were getting tired of Disney spectacle and wanted more down to earth style which is what Pixar and Dreamworks delivered.
Though I think execs dont realize this isn’t early 2000s, 3d is no longer this avant garde thing. It’s the new old thing.
I think people in this era that is more suspicious of technology instead of optimistic might want to bring back the nostalgia of 2d. If Disney would give it another shot they could have a second renaissance.