Comments on: The State of Animation http://www.kartooner.com/archives/2005/03/28/the-state-of-animation/ Thoughts and observations from a quirky cartoonist and designer. Wed, 08 Oct 2008 02:37:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: kartooner http://www.kartooner.com/archives/2005/03/28/the-state-of-animation/#comment-7739 kartooner Wed, 30 Mar 2005 20:37:29 +0000 http://www.kartooner.com/archives/2005/03/28/the-state-of-animation/#comment-7739 Alot of great input here, thanks for sharing. I could have elaborated on the fact that traditionally animated films from Disney as of late have been of poor quality but I left that open to interpretation. Also, I agree in regards to Anime. However, when it comes to shows like Dragonball Z or shows with wacky titles like "Super-Hyper Go-Go Chicken Balls", I'm not that impressed. On the other hand, movies like Spirited Away or anything by <a href="http://disney.go.com/disneyvideos/animatedfilms/miyazaki/" alt="Miyazaki Collection">Miyazaki-san</a> continue to impress me with their visuals and story. It's an acquired taste no doubt but something that evokes a strong sense of imagination. Alot of great input here, thanks for sharing. I could have elaborated on the fact that traditionally animated films from Disney as of late have been of poor quality but I left that open to interpretation.

Also, I agree in regards to Anime. However, when it comes to shows like Dragonball Z or shows with wacky titles like “Super-Hyper Go-Go Chicken Balls”, I’m not that impressed. On the other hand, movies like Spirited Away or anything by Miyazaki-san continue to impress me with their visuals and story. It’s an acquired taste no doubt but something that evokes a strong sense of imagination.

]]> By: Max http://www.kartooner.com/archives/2005/03/28/the-state-of-animation/#comment-7615 Max Wed, 30 Mar 2005 04:14:27 +0000 http://www.kartooner.com/archives/2005/03/28/the-state-of-animation/#comment-7615 I don't have much to add - I hate that traditional 2-D animation is going away. I love Pixar for their storytelling. The 3-D work is cool (fantastically cool), but sticking feathers up your ass doesn't make you a chicken. Pixar has the goods. I haven't seen much else that compares (besides <em>some</em> anime). I don’t have much to add - I hate that traditional 2-D animation is going away. I love Pixar for their storytelling. The 3-D work is cool (fantastically cool), but sticking feathers up your ass doesn’t make you a chicken.

Pixar has the goods. I haven’t seen much else that compares (besides some anime).

]]> By: beto http://www.kartooner.com/archives/2005/03/28/the-state-of-animation/#comment-7484 beto Tue, 29 Mar 2005 16:47:22 +0000 http://www.kartooner.com/archives/2005/03/28/the-state-of-animation/#comment-7484 Words to live by, man... hey, I'm a big Incredibles fan (just got the DVD) and it would be hard to imagine it done in 2-D. But as people have said here before it's not about technology coolness (that can only take you so far) but how you tell your story. It could have been done with matchsticks, but if those matchsticks can move me with joy, melancholy, tears and emotion in general, then that's what really counts. Whiz-bang technology without heart and soul put into it is nothing. Disney lost it a number of years ago, more or less around completion of "The Lion King" (<em>Lilo and Stitch</em> being a singular exception to the rule) and the consolidation of the Eisner dark empire, whose only interest is to maximize returns in past glories recycling them ad nauseam (Pooh movies, anyone?) and milk the Mickey cow till it runs dry. Period. Something many animation buffs ignore so easily these days is that it took a couple of former Disney artists -Don Bluth and Gary Goldman- to light some fire under Disney's butt, releasing a number of films that signaled a renaissance of the art form in the mid-eighties, when Disney was already declaring animation dead (not the first time, huh). In fact, Don is my favorite animation director of all time and I feel he sadly doesn't get enough credits or respect from the industry given his pivotal role in animation history. Back then there was some rumor that Pixar could fund a school/filmmaking institution based in 2-D. Could it happen someday? I know Pixar has a LOT of respect for traditional animation... they could become 2-D's saving grace. Words to live by, man… hey, I’m a big Incredibles fan (just got the DVD) and it would be hard to imagine it done in 2-D. But as people have said here before it’s not about technology coolness (that can only take you so far) but how you tell your story. It could have been done with matchsticks, but if those matchsticks can move me with joy, melancholy, tears and emotion in general, then that’s what really counts. Whiz-bang technology without heart and soul put into it is nothing.

Disney lost it a number of years ago, more or less around completion of “The Lion King” (Lilo and Stitch being a singular exception to the rule) and the consolidation of the Eisner dark empire, whose only interest is to maximize returns in past glories recycling them ad nauseam (Pooh movies, anyone?) and milk the Mickey cow till it runs dry. Period.

Something many animation buffs ignore so easily these days is that it took a couple of former Disney artists -Don Bluth and Gary Goldman- to light some fire under Disney’s butt, releasing a number of films that signaled a renaissance of the art form in the mid-eighties, when Disney was already declaring animation dead (not the first time, huh). In fact, Don is my favorite animation director of all time and I feel he sadly doesn’t get enough credits or respect from the industry given his pivotal role in animation history.

Back then there was some rumor that Pixar could fund a school/filmmaking institution based in 2-D. Could it happen someday? I know Pixar has a LOT of respect for traditional animation… they could become 2-D’s saving grace.

]]> By: Colin D. Devroe http://www.kartooner.com/archives/2005/03/28/the-state-of-animation/#comment-7447 Colin D. Devroe Tue, 29 Mar 2005 12:46:13 +0000 http://www.kartooner.com/archives/2005/03/28/the-state-of-animation/#comment-7447 If you ain't got story, you ain't got shit. Take a look at Robots. If you ain’t got story, you ain’t got shit. Take a look at Robots.

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