Who asked for a remake?

Live-action followups can't be a movie studio's only trump card. They fail more than they succeed. Leave our animated classics alone

- Karishma Kuenzang

Once upon a time, Disney chanced upon a miracle. In 1996, it released a live-action version of 101 Dalmatians. The real dogs were cute. Glenn Close revelled in her role as Cruella de Vil. The story seemed as magical as its 1961 animated predecessor.

Let's do more, Disney said. They rolled out Alice In Wonderland in 2010. Bright, overproduced, stiff. Weird? Yes. Fun? No. Then, in 2015, they did a live-action remake of Cinderella. CGI, Richard Madden as Prince Charming, floaty dresses. It still lacked sparkle. In 2016, they unleashed Jungle Book. Dark, rich, haunting. But no songs, no Kaa. Why?

Each remake was lacklustre but profitable, so Disney persisted. There's been a Beauty and the Beast, a Dumbo, an Aladdin, The Lion King, Pinocchio, even The Little Mermaid. Older fans can't recall a single scene from the remakes. Here's what the studio still hasn't realised: Sometimes, twodimensional drawings are more evocative than actual actors.