PHINEAS FERB creators ink deals with Disney - feature film and potential spinoff

Get ready for a Phineas Ferb spinoff and or possible feature film! Deadline reports that Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh have signed separate exclusive, multi-year, multimillion-dollar deals with Disney Television Animation. The deal will allow for them to continue working on the Emmy-winning series they created and executive produce for another season. In addition, the deal officially attaches them to the Phineas and Ferb movie being developed at Disney. Povenmire and Marsh are arleady hard at work on the script. The deal gets better, it also includes a new pilot, likely a Phineas and Ferbs pinoff, and other future development for Povenmire and Marsh, who also have a piece of the franchise’s merchandising profits.

This deal was a no brainer for Disney after Phineas and Ferb: Across the 2nd Dimension TV movie had 7.6 million viewers in its debut this month to become the most-watched cable movie of the year and the third-highest-rated movie in Disney Channel history. The studio has switched from live-action programming to focus on TV animation. This will result in the doubling of the number of animated episodes on Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior in 2012 versus 2010. Their strategy is to concentrate on “creator-driven” series. Phineas and Ferb was the first hit with that strategy, and then Noah Z. Jones’ Fish Hooks and others. 

I think this makes sense for Disney, too much live-action just does not feel right for the studio that was founded on animation. I like live-action films they have done, but think a mix is a good idea. What are your thoughts on this news?