If you thought Guardians of Ga’Hool wasn’t such a hot name, you’re not alone. The animated film, directed by Zack Snyder and based on a series of children’s books about owls, has had its name changed to a less weird but also more generic Legend of the Guardians.
Last year I was on the set of Sucker Punch, Snyder’s next live action film, and I was shown some clips of Ga’Hoole; what I saw was interesting and sort of unique in the animation landscape. I was reminded, in many ways, of Disney’s early 80s attempts to get more serious with their animation, like The Black Cauldron – except unlike The Black Cauldron nobody was going to be trying to cut the darkness. This looks to be an action oriented story – these owls wear helmets and have razors on their claws! – that will surely appeal to armies of 13 year old boys, as well as their sisters, who will be drawn in by the cute owls.
But that name! Guardians of Ga’Hoole was obviously bad, but Legend of the Guardians is so generic that I wonder if people’s eyes will slide right off the title.
At any rate, expect a trailer this weekend with Alice in Wonderland 3D, including that new title.