The death of traditional animation

This is a subject near and dear to my heart, and I assume many other member's hearts. Who didn't grow up with classic Disney animated films like "The Jungle book," "Fantasia", and my personal favorite "The Lion King." The stories were unforgettable, the animation stunning and beautiful. The animation truly made the stories alive and transported us into far off exotic worlds or into the lives of the characters on screen. Disney was truly the master of the animated arts. But then it all changed. With the advent of computer graphics, traditional animation was shoved to the wayside and forgotten, The reasoning being today's youth were not interested in it and only flashy computer graphics would attract audiences. That could not be farther from the truth. Children and adults alike are still spellbound by traditional animation. Putting flashy multicolored graphics on the screen with a story that has no heart is not what interests youth. The only exception to this is Pixar, Pixar still keeps the tradition of great story telling with amazing visuals alive. But every other CGI animated film is garbage compared to the traditionally animated classics. Take "Bee Movie"(Dreamworks 2007)for example.

Compare that plastic, fake heartless look with "The little Match Girl" (Disney/ Pixar,2006)

The animation in "the little match girl" is stunning to say the least and shows how traditionally animated work, combined with computers can create beautiful and moving stories. "Bee Movie" in stark contrast looks like a collage of multicolored plastic and vomit shaped splasjhed onto the screen. Luckily, studios like Pixar are around trying to keep traditional animation alive, but for the most part, traditional animation has become a thing of the past. Like a favorite childhood memory, or like a dream that quickly fades when you awake.

Japanese anime will keep traditional animation alive for the younger generations.

Originally Posted by Helm

Japanese anime will keep traditional animation alive for the younger generations.

But Anime pales to the stuff Disney and others used to put out. It's not the same.

Originally Posted by Nikos

But Anime pales to the stuff Disney and others used to put out. It's not the same.

Lies!

Is Anime. Best animated film director in animation history made these two. ^^

Bugs Bunny!

But Pixar made Toy Story.
I remember I watched that movie like 10 times when I was a little boy...

Originally Posted by IPA35

Bugs Bunny!

But Pixar made Toy Story.
I remember I watched that movie like 10 times when I was a little boy...

I said Pixar was awesome.

Originally Posted by Nikos

I said Pixar was awesome.

I know, so 3D animation CAN be ok.
But Pixar invented it, so they have to be the best

Originally Posted by IPA35

I know, so 3D animation CAN be ok.
But Pixar invented it, so they have to be the best

Pixar actually tries to make the animation look good and they pair it with a good story.

Japanese anime will keep traditional animation alive for the younger generations.

Depends on how you feel about anime bag of style and technique elements - I not all that crazy about them, particularly when compared to say classic Disney or Warner Bros style but thats really personal taste.

One of the most beautiful animated films I've seen is the little known Ghibli film My Neighbours the Yamadas.

So, how exactly does old-school animation tell a story better? Because it's old-school?

Originally Posted by Mr. Biggs

So, how exactly does old-school animation tell a story better? Because it's old-school?

Because it looks much better. Computer 3D=/= better movie.

Originally Posted by Mr. Biggs

So, how exactly does old-school animation tell a story better? Because it's old-school?

People who like old-school animation tend to like the old-school way of storytelling. Not so much postmodernist references and self-knowingness, and more effort into making a self-contained narrative that demands immersion.

Originally Posted by pannonian

People who like old-school animation tend to like the old-school way of storytelling. Not so much postmodernist references and self-knowingness, and more effort into making a self-contained narrative that demands immersion.

Exactly, I'm sick of slick plastic graphics with meaningless pop culture references.

Originally Posted by Nikos

Exactly, I'm sick of slick plastic graphics with meaningless pop culture references.

That is a huge generalization that doesn't make your point any stronger. Honestly.

i was just talking to my sister about this after watching Aladdin. True gems.

It will change with time just like the graphical leap from 2d to 3d, remember? The 2d art had been perfected for years when all of the sudden it all changed for crappy 3d graphics. A couple of years later the true potential of 3d started to shine.

I think Cel Shade and that new visual theme that Borderlands utilize (like rough sketch textures) is just a small preview of things to come.

But yeah, it has changed, just like the cd replaced the vinyl. The sound is more crisp and clear, but in the end, it just doesn't sound like a vinyl.

Traditional animation is not dead.
For one, anime is always going to keep it alive. Regardless of if you "don't like it" (which I think is a wrong opinion to have), anime is keeping old style animation around.

Furthermore, Disney are making traditional animated movies still. There's one coming out later this year that is traditionally-animated.

But Anime pales to the stuff Disney and others used to put out. It's not the same.

That's completely a matter of personal taste. In my opinion Miyazaki's animation is far superior to anything from Disney.

You compare the works of 100 years or so of Disney animation to a few decades of 3d. Of course you'll find more gems in the former. But I can compare a bad 2d film to, say, Toy Story, and say that Pixar is much better than anything Disney - does that make it so? No, of course not. Every generation has something different and unique to offer us, and the best of one generation is no better or worse than the best of another.

It's pure nostalgic bull in this thread, is all.