Article On Disney Animation: Is It Fading?

[frogboy4]

I certainly don't think traditional animation is a dead artform. It starts with the story. Another retread of Treasure Island released at the same time as Harry Potter is a terrible idea. I can't comment on Lilo and Stitch, but there haven't been many good stories attached to the traditionally animated Disney projects. That's the real issue. It's obvious that Disney has just run out of ideas these days. That's why they are making these cheapquels. The entertainment community always needs good writers. They never get the credit they deserve IMHO.

Disney just wants to cut costs. They want a quicker path to the money, but they don't understand that you have to put in the time and effort to get a good, quality result. I'm not saying Disney is bad, they are just misguided in recent years. I've disliked most of their (non Pixar) projects since Pocahauntus (can't stand that picture). Tarzan was a great attempt, but they dropped the ball in the second half. The first 5 minutes of that film is what Disney animated pictures are all about! That's the last (non Pixar) Disney project I have respect for. The opening scene just makes me appreciate the power of movies - and even like Phil Collins music! Imagine that!!

 

[beaker]

Originally posted by frogboy4

Disney just wants to cut costs. They want a quicker path to the money, but they don't understand that you have to put in the time and effort to get a good, quality result. I'm not saying Disney is bad, they are just misguided in recent years. I've disliked most of their (non Pixar) projects since Pocahauntus (can't stand that picture). Tarzan was a great attempt, but they dropped the ball in the second half. The first 5 minutes of that film is what Disney animated pictures are all about! That's the last (non Pixar) Disney project I have respect for. The opening scene just makes me appreciate the power of movies - and even like Phil Collins music! Imagine that!!

Oh I skipped out on most of the 90's Disney films(With the exception of the great Aladdin and Lion King) The format we all saw get beaten to the ground started with of course The Little Mermaid. I skipped out though on Belle(America seems to be the only country it was called 'Beauty in the Beast...interesting)
Pochahontas? Hunchback? Hurcules? Mulan? Nope...skipped those. I Was however relieved when they went with a fresh new look and fell with Tarzan...their most slick animated style(the first new 'anime' inspired Disney film) , a darker tone, just a great adrenaline rush(and I saw it on vhs)
But Jamie, how could ya not like anything post Tarzan? It was actually pre Tarzan I didnt like. I mean Fantasia 2000 has to be one of the greatest achievements in modern Disney history. And Emperor's New Groove, wow. So while Disney's Summer slot film tanked(didnt even see DInosaurs) there films at the beginning and end of 2000 rocked. Atlantis...well I liked a lot of it, it sure looked nice. Lilo and Stitch was very unusal and very modern, I really liked it. Treasure Planet...ack...cgi fused stuff only goes so far.

I am glad Disney has gone all out to be ethnicly diversed.
Im not sure if ethnic people even existed in the old days of animation except for stereotype canon fodder for Bugs and Porky to shoot. So to see Disney make nothing but films based on non American cultures is a breath of fresh air.
Sadly Im not sure if familys would go in droves to see an Arabic central film like Aladdin in the new millennium.

 

[frogboy4]

Fantasia 2000 was cool, but I count it as a different sort of film. Plus I was disappointed in it. Just didn't live up to the first.

Emperor's New Groove? Didn't like it. Cute, but not worthy of Disney. I feel the same about Groove as I do about Rockadoodle. LOL!

Didn't like Aladdin either. It was just the animated Robin Williams movie. I had high expectations after Beauty and the Beast was nominated for Best Picture, then Aladdin came around with its slapsticky story. Didn't interest me. Seemed more for the kids.

The Little Mermaid is my favorite totally animated Disney film. The only issue I had was the end. The closing animation with the mermaids in the water and Ariel walking out of the water in that horribly animated sparkling dress killed a little joy at the end. I still avert my eyes when that part comes on. LOL!

I'm really picky when it comes to animation. More effort goes into it and it's really all about planning. When an animated film is all screwed up, there's less of a reason for it. It's like a watching a train coming in slow motion from miles away and not doing anything to avoid it.

 

[trekkie1701E]

<B>Emperor's New Groove? Didn't like it. Cute, but not worthy of Disney</B>
ENG was a very good comedy with a nod to more of the "classic" Disney cartoons.

 

[GWGumby]

Originally posted by trekkie1701E
ENG was a very good comedy with a nod to more of the "classic" Disney cartoons.

Actually, I'd say it was more of a throwback to classic WB cartoons. Earlier Disney had slapstick, but not much of the random zaniness of a great Bugs Bunny cartoon.

 

[beaker]

Originally posted by frogboy4
Fantasia 2000 was cool, but I count it as a different sort of film. Plus I was disappointed in it. Just didn't live up to the first.

Emperor's New Groove? Didn't like it. Cute, but not worthy of Disney. I feel the same about Groove as I do about Rockadoodle. LOL!

Didn't like Aladdin either. It was just the animated Robin Williams movie. I had high expectations after Beauty and the Beast was nominated for Best Picture, then Aladdin came around with its slapsticky story. Didn't interest me. Seemed more for the kids.

It's like a watching a train coming in slow motion from miles away and not doing anything to avoid it.

The word train wreck has become synonymous with the mouse these days. I mean I feel sorry for the kids that were taken to the wretched format of mid to late 90's 'song and dance-save the princess-two talking sidekicks-and an evil emperor' format.
Thank goodness they got rid of that old template.

Also Aladdin was the first Disney film to truly be modern...
I mean there is a scene where the Genie pulls out a Goofy hat from Disneyworld, breaking away from Canon. genuis. We need more animated Robin Williams films^_^ (And man I Wish theyd make another animated Woody Allen film)

Ive actually never seen Beauty & the Beast...emasculating isnt even the word. Then again I havent seen Muppet Xmas Carol...but its not exactly my favorite time in JHC history.

 

[frogboy4]

I'll make a deal with you. I'll suffer through the anime styled Spirited Away (and possibly even Lilo and Stitch) if you see MCC and Beauty and the Beast. I think you will be pleasantly surprised. No, they are not perfect films, but key films in Disney and Henson's history. They are also interesting departures from typical Disney and Henson formats. Both worth seeing.

 

[beaker]

Originally posted by frogboy4
I'll make a deal with you. I'll suffer through the anime styled Spirited Away (and possibly even Lilo and Stitch) if you see MCC and Beauty and the Beast. I think you will be pleasantly surprised. No, they are not perfect films, but key films in Disney and Henson's history. They are also interesting departures from typical Disney and Henson formats. Both worth seeing.

Suffer through Spirited Away? I guess to make ya watch Goonies, Willow, Dark Crystal, and Never Ending Story would be a pain for ya to right? I would seriously be surprised if there was anyone who saw Spirited Away that was disappointed.

As for MCC...Im a bit of a history revisionist. I dont care for pre TMTM Piggy(The word grotesque comes to mind)...Im not that interested in the dark ages of JHC(ie: mid 90 to late 95)
And Beauty and the Beast...well, it does seem to have better animation than a lot of their newer films like Hercules. (Though that could be just judging from the special edition) It just seems to effettely foppish...I mean Euro-Victorian era fluffy foof. eeeek.

 

[frogboy4]

I don't care for 6-12 frame japanamation. Don't like the animation quality, the style or the plots of "anime". Don't even like the elitist term, "anime". It's all japanimation to me. Just with better PR. But I'll definitely watch it to see what the fuss is about. Can't promise I won't turn it off after 20 minutes, but I'll try. I just think this artform lacks heart. Maybe this is the one exception. It looks pretty common to me from the production shots at Yahoo movies.

 

[beaker]

Originally posted by frogboy4
I don't care for 6-12 frame japanamation. Don't like the animation quality, the style or the plots of "anime". Don't even like the elitist term, "anime". It's all japanimation to me. Just with better PR. But I'll definitely watch it to see what the fuss is about. Can't promise I won't turn it off after 20 minutes, but I'll try. I just think this artform lacks heart. Maybe this is the one exception. It looks pretty common to me from the production shots at Yahoo movies.

Well Jamie, Im not gonna lie to you. An extrordinary amount of anime sucks a$$. Just as a lot of Disney to me is unwatchable poo to me. I dare not even say what anime I think sucks for fear of backlash from people.

However, do you remember when you were little...that sense of wonder and astonishment when you saw say Dark Crystal or NeverEnding Story? Thats how one feels after watching Spirited Away.

And animation wise...we all have an interesting sense of what was great when we were little...but when I saw Little Mermain again when it was rereleased in 1997 I forgot how lame a lot of the naimation was(Im sure the same would be true if I saw Pinocchio 2 Emperor of the Night again)

Spirited Away is like Tibet. The Socialist Mouse has tried all it can to silence its beauty while reaping the few of its financial
rewards.

Of course it is all 'Japanimation'. ie: Animation from Japan. Yes, manga means comic books, and anime means animation. But "anime" generally refers to animation from the land of the rising sun. That oh so sweet mecca I wish to visit some day.