The film was finally green-lit when the budget decreased to $30 million, which at the time would have still made it the most expensive animated film ever produced. Walt Disney Studios chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg argued that the hybrid of live-action and animation would "save" Walt Disney Feature Animation. Spielberg's contract included an extensive amount of creative control and a large percentage of the box-office profits. Disney kept all merchandising rights. Spielberg convinced Warner Bros., Fleischer Studios, Harvey Comics, King Features Syndicate, Felix the Cat Productions, Turner Entertainment, and Universal Pictures/Walter Lantz Productions to "lend" their characters to appear in the film with (in some cases) stipulations on how those characters were portrayed; for example, Disney's Donald Duck and Warner Bros.' Daffy Duck appear as equally talented dueling pianists, and Mickey Mouse and Bugs Bunny also share a scene. Apart from the agreement, and some of the original voice artists reprising their roles, Warner Bros. and the various other companies were not involved in the production of Roger Rabbit. Executives at Warner Bros. were displeased by animators using the Daffy design by Bob Clampett and demanded they use the design by Chuck Jones; in response Zemeckis had separate artists animate Daffy using Jones' design to satisfy Warner Bros., in order to have Clampett's design in the final film. The producers were unable to acquire the rights to use Popeye, Tom and Jerry, Little Lulu, Casper, or the Terrytoons characters for appearances from their respective owners (King Features, Turner, Western Publishing, Harvey Comics, and Viacom).
The film was finally green-lit when the budget decreased to $30 million which at the time would have still made it the most expensive animated film ever produced Walt Disney Studios chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg argued that the hybrid of live-action and animation would "save" Walt Disney Feature Animation Spielberg's contract included an extensive amount of creative control and a large percentage of the box-office profits Disney kept all merchandising rights Spielberg convinced Warner Bros Fleischer Studios Harvey Comics King Features Syndicate Felix the Cat Productions Turner Entertainment and Universal Pictures/Walter Lantz Productions to "lend" their characters to appear in the film with (in some cases) stipulations on how those characters were portrayed; for example Disney's Donald Duck and Warner Bros' Daffy Duck appear as equally talented dueling pianists and Mickey Mouse and Bugs Bunny also share a scene Apart from the agreement and some of the original voice artists reprising their roles Warner Bros and the various other companies were not involved in the production of Roger Rabbit Executives at Warner Bros were displeased by animators using the Daffy design by Bob Clampett and demanded they use the design by Chuck Jones; in response Zemeckis had separate artists animate Daffy using Jones' design to satisfy Warner Bros in order to have Clampett's design in the final film The producers were unable to acquire the rights to use Popeye Tom and Jerry Little Lulu Casper or the Terrytoons characters for appearances from their respective owners (King Features Turner Western Publishing Harvey Comics and Viacom)