Animated drama anyone?

[Sotiris]

I would really want to see diney making a real contemporary drama in animation. I want a compelling story,well-written dialogue, powerful score (and songs), beautiful character desigins and absolutely no kids stuff.

The only animated movies that have come close to the combination of disney-quality animation and drama are:

Hunchback of Notre Dame--the gargoyles really set off the tone of the movie

Pocahontas---the whole movie is focused on a romance, i want a romantic background but not be the central focus of the movie

The Prince of Egypt---this was an epic/religious movie

Does anyone else here feel me?

[blackcauldron85]

I like the sidekicks and the funny "kid" stuff, personally. I see what you're saying, but I doubt that Disney would alienate its huge kid fanbase anytime soon. They also have a large non-kid fanbase who seems happy with most of the animated Disney films, too.

[PapiBear]

The Prince of Egypt was the only one of those three that was really exceptional. I'm still a little baffled that a competitor beat Disney to the punch in adapting a Bible story for an animated feature. The Bible's chock-a-block full of good stories that could be adapted for animation. In fact, the only Disney animated story that's even semi-Biblical is 1978's short The Small One.

While a Disney movie doesn't necessarily have to be "adult," the overemphasis on the "kid" audience leads to pandering to that audience, which good Disney films don't do. Good Disney films are for the entire family, not just the kids, not just the teens, not just the adults. Everyone.

[Sotiris]

They also have a large non-kid fanbase who seems happy with most of the animated Disney films, too.

Yeah, i know, i'm one of them. But it would be really great if disney ever tried this without turning it to a movie "for the whole family". There are several animated movies that have attempted to handle serious issues and targed an adult audience, conferming that animation is not a genre but an artistic approach, but they lacked the disney-quality animation.

[littlefuzzy]

Check out:

A Scanner Darkly
Kaena: The Prophecy
Tons of anime!
Wonderful Days (Sky Blue)

[JamesDFarrow]

How about the Dickens classics.

Are they still copyrighted or are they in the public domain now?

James

[PeterPanfan]

Disney wouldn't be Disney if they were "pure adult" films. The kids would be dissapointed and question their parents why they get to go see a Disney film,and they don't...

[kurtadisneyite]

If you want more quality "adult" animation, and in 2D, you have to go to Japan/Anime or European.

While Walt himself sold animation to families (not just kids) and there was adult humor in his films, if you look carefully, his successors thought otherwise.

But as time went on the American market was and __is__ conditioned into believing any American animation, especially if it looks like or is Disney, is for kids, period. Now Disney and all the other "american" animation companies that tried doing more "adult" stories have not been able to overcome the fact they have been selling animation as Kiddy Fodder.
So:

Hunchback,
Pocahontas,
The Prince of Egypt

...were not huge hits at the box office (Egypt did the best, I think). Which reminds me of a true story;

When Pocahontas came to Australia, Disney spent around $10 million promoting the film while all the stores stocked up on Poca merchandise. The film's release garnered $1.5 mil there before it sank like a stone - Australians passed on Poca. Stores soon were dumping Poca merchandise at a third of its original price, only to get caught short when the Australian VIDEO Release of Poca was sprung only a few months later.

Others have tried:

WB's Iron Giant, a truly fine film, crashed and burned to the point its creator, Brad Bird, moved to Pixar !!

[Flanger-Hanger]

There is no point in maing an animated drama becuase it could be something easily (and more cheaply done) in live-action.

Animation is meant to show things that can't be done in real life, this is why fairy tales and fantasy stories are more successful in animation. And like others have said, animated films are meant to be enjoyed by everyone on different levels.

[Princess Stitch]

*snip*
Animation is meant to show things that can't be done in real life, this is why fairy tales and fantasy stories are more successful in animation. And like others have said, animated films are meant to be enjoyed by everyone on different levels.

I pretty much agree with this.. I mean, how well do you think the animated version of "The English Paitent" or "Pride and Prejudice" would have done? Animated films are meant to be an escape I think.. tell me a story, but do it in a fun way. I know some animated films have been more serious, but in all honesty, they didn't do very well, which is why I can't really see Disney making a really serious animated drama.

As far as the biblical stories go. I agree that there are tons of stories in the bible that would make great films, however, I understand why they woudlnt' have wanted to touch that one. First of all, if the story is changed a bit, you're going to get the people who complain that it's blasphemous (sp?) that they altered a bible story. Then is the problem of choosing a holy book. Alot of people are really touchy about religion. That's why prayers aren't allowed in public schools. So on the same note, I think there would be alot of paren't who wont' want their children watching a movie that preaches about something they don't believe in.

[PapiBear]

That's why prayers aren't allowed in public schools.

Prayers are allowed in public schools. Nobody's banned from praying in a public school if they want or need to do so. There's just no official school involvement in prayer. If a student prays (usually quietly) before a test, that student's not breaking any school rule.

[pap64]

I have to agree and disagree with some of the comments posted here. I agree that animation has focused too much on comedy and lighthearted comment when many things can be done in the medium.

I disagree with the fact that animation is just for fairy tales and other fantastic tales. I mean, if you check Japanese animation you will find many slice of life stories that are not fantastic yet are just as captivating as the DBZs, Narutos and One Pieces.

One great example of this is Studio Ghibli's Whisper of the Heart. Its a very simple slice of life story, yet the story was always captivating and enchanting. So the movie didn't need any fairy tales to be enjoyable.

I disagree with the whole notion that animation works better with fairy tales because one of my dreams is to make an animated film, and one of the projects I hope to bring to life is a romantic comedy story. While my story can be done in life action, the reason I want to turn it into an animated film (and a 2D one at that) is because the characters themselves (especially the main male lead, who has a big muscle build, is nearly 7 feet tall and is very hairy) are larger than life and I doubt live action will be able to capture the magic that 2D films can capture.

In fact, I've been watching the older Disney films and admired how they did studies on human characters (like in Cinderella). If I were to turn my story into an animated movie I would do the same research Disney did in order to capture the amazing human performance.

But just because the my story is a romantic one it doesn't mean that I can't get the most out of the medium. I mean, there are some comedic elements that can't be done in live action, as well as expressions. Finally, animation would allow for some amazing backdrops and scenery.

So, I completely disagree that animation is just for fantastic tales. In fact, the whole country of Japan disagrees .

[Sotiris]

Check out:

A Scanner Darkly
Kaena: The Prophecy
Tons of anime!
Wonderful Days (Sky Blue)

Seen them all, they are great I'm a big fan of anime too!

Disney wouldn't be Disney if they were "pure adult" films. The kids would be disappointed and question their parents why they get to go see a Disney film,and they don't...

I'm not suggesting to stop with the family movies but what's wrong with developing a branch of animation that targets adult viewers?

There is no point in maing an animated drama because it could be something easily (and more cheaply done) in live-action.

Animation is meant to show things that can't be done in real life, this is why fairy tales and fantasy stories are more successful in animation.

Well, i don't think that applies anymore. With the development of technology and CGI any animated movie can be easily shot as a live-action and vice-versa.

Examples?

Spiderman, Lord of the Rings, Superman etc.. There isn't a thing in terms of technology that an animated movie can have that live-action can't.

[Disney-Fan]

Check out:

A Scanner Darkly

Horrible story. HORRIBLE.
(Lovely animation though).

The Prince of Egypt---this was an epic/religious movie

Gotta disagree with you there on basically every level possible. This was so far from a religious epic that at times I forgot the story it was based on. I have to say, as far as animated dramas go, this is a prime example for a great one. Human emotions are at the foreplay, with only minor mentions of the supernatural world of God and Co.

One great drama would no doubtedly be The Iron Giant. Check it out. It's got amazing animation and at the heart of it is a story about two buddies. Sounds tired? Really not, and it happens to be a real heart-string puller at times!

[pap64]

I wouldn't call Scanner darkly's animation "animation" since no artwork was laid in paper and animated piece by piece. They just filmed the characters, then painted the colors over them. As a friend of mine used to point out, this is the animation equivalent of using tracing paper to "draw".

I hate to sound like an elitist, but I hate it when they call movies like SD and Waking Life "animation", because nothing is being brought to life. Animation is the illusion of life. How can there be an illusion if the characters are already alive?

As for the movie itself, I thought it was interesting. Confusing as heck, but interesting. I saw this with a friend who is not a big fan of Keanu Reeves (he said that the movie would put him to sleep ) and he thought it was unique.

It simply isn't for everyone.

[Sotiris]

I wouldn't call Scanner darkly's animation "animation" since no artwork was laid in paper and animated piece by piece. They just filmed the characters, then painted the colors over them. As a friend of mine used to point out, this is the animation equivalent of using tracing paper to "draw".

I hate to sound like an elitist, but I hate it when they call movies like SD and Waking Life "animation", because nothing is being brought to life. Animation is the illusion of life. How can there be an illusion if the characters are already alive?

This technique is called rotoscoping and it is considered a form of animation either we like it or not...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotoscoping

[pap64]

I wouldn't call Scanner darkly's animation "animation" since no artwork was laid in paper and animated piece by piece. They just filmed the characters, then painted the colors over them. As a friend of mine used to point out, this is the animation equivalent of using tracing paper to "draw".

I hate to sound like an elitist, but I hate it when they call movies like SD and Waking Life "animation", because nothing is being brought to life. Animation is the illusion of life. How can there be an illusion if the characters are already alive?

This technique is called rotoscoping and it is considered a form of animation either we like it or not...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotoscoping

Yeah I knew about the technique. In fact, I first learned about it when I was discussing Don Bluth's films in another forum (mainly Anastasia and Titan A.E.).

[Princess Stitch]

That's why prayers aren't allowed in public schools.

Prayers are allowed in public schools. Nobody's banned from praying in a public school if they want or need to do so. There's just no official school involvement in prayer. If a student prays (usually quietly) before a test, that student's not breaking any school rule.

Ok, sorry, apparantly my wording wasn't clear enough...yeesh

Prayers are not allowed to be broadcast at public schools. I know that teachers or anyone else for that matter aren't allowed to prevent kids from praying. For example, I went to Catholic school in elementary and high school. Every morning we said either the Our Father or the Hail Mary right after the national anthem was played. In public school, they were not allowed to broadcast those prayers. Instead I believe they had a daily non-denominational reflection.

Not that this really has anything to do with the thread

[littlefuzzy]

I just found out about a film called Renaissance... It is French, and done in a "film-noirish" black & white style.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0386741/trailers

Of course, it also appears to be of the rotoscoped variety...

[1981]

The greatest animated drama of all time is:
Grave of the Fireflies (produced by Studio Ghibli)