Q: Do you think that the studios are going to rediscover 2D animation?
James Lopez: I think what is going to require is a set of successful 2D productions. I’ve been talking to a bunch of producers and production people and we realized that the last successful business model for a 2D production has been The Lion King and that was 25 years ago. So, that model is almost no longer good. There needs to be a new one. There needs to be one that is relevant to today. And again, it seemed like nobody was willing to take the chance and it was really discouraging. We say you just have to give it a chance; give it a good chance. I think The Princess and the Frog did good. It’s hard to say. It’s one of these things. What do you say about it? I think it did make money, it did do well. Maybe because it didn’t do blockbusters, it’s frowned upon. But the point is that it’s not the medium. It’s not the medium that did that. I still believe that any movie especially with a good story can make it and be worthwhile but I say it’s not just that. I think it’s a combination of both the story and the aesthetic. I want to reintroduce the traditional 2D aesthetic back into the business. I just feel very strongly that it could do well.
Source:
http://micechat.com/80372-mousetalgia-p ... -way-home/
Q: What does 2D animation give the audience that CG animation does not?
James Lopez: When my friends try to describe the difference, the word they most commonly use is that it has “soul.” When I see something that is hand-crafted, there’s a feeling and sense of character that surrounds it as opposed to something that is machine-made. I believe that we can identify with it and embrace something that is hand-made much easier.
Q: What does 2D allow the artist to do that CG does not?
James Lopez: In CG, it starts with a pre-made default pose, then the animator clicks and drags the various parts of the character to eventually, over time, form a pose. It’s calculated. In 2D, it starts with a blank piece of paper and the animator quickly lays down a gesture-like form in a free-spirited way to create a similar pose. It’s spontaneous. In CG, I am somewhat bound by what the computer allows me to do, but in 2D, I am only bound by my own imagination.
Q: Do you think that 2D animation helps storytelling better than CG animation? For example, is it easier to lose the focus of the story in the visual presentation of CG animation, or is this a risk for 2D animation, as well?
James Lopez: I believe you can tell just as good of a story using either medium. I suppose it’s easy, when not checked, to choose style over substance. Both methods require a certain amount of discipline on behalf of the filmmakers in order to be told well. Performance is, in part, the key to good storytelling. As 2D animators, we are trained to caricature what we see. Caricature is an exaggerated point-of view of what we perceive and it exists in varied degrees ranging from the mild to extreme. Knowing the right degree that is required is what helps to create a solid performance and so that is why, typically, 2D animation or animators with 2D animation experience have the upper-hand. It all comes down to how well the artist is able to use the medium to achieve the same desired goal, and that is creating an emotionally satisfying performance.
Q: Ever since the release of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” Disney animation has been the touchstone for what many American audiences know as high-quality animated entertainment. How can this historical presence help guide you in what you’re hoping to accomplish with “Hullabaloo” and your efforts to preserve 2D animation’s art form?
James Lopez: We want to do more than just preserve the art form, we want to keep advancing it! We’re out to prove that with the right combination of story and aesthetic, we can take it to that next step. When Snow White was created, critics said no one would sit through a feature-length cartoon. Studio executives propagate that 2D is no longer a relevant art form and that no one will support a 2D animated movie. ‘Hullabaloo’ aspires to be the Snow White of a new generation!
Source:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/a ... story.html
"I believe it's not the audiences but rather the producers and executives in charge that are not receptive to 2D," says Lopez. "When you read the multitude of comments on the various threads online that have spawned since the launch of the campaign, it's plain to see that there is a resounding voice that votes in favour of 2D animation film production. The animation industry is not abiding by the laws of supply and demand. There is a demand for quality 2D animation that is not being met." The intention to save 2D animation sits at the heart of Hullabaloo. "2D is an art form that really allows me to be the most expressive, especially when it comes to emoting characters. It is a unique art form that captures the soul like no other," says Lopez.
Source:
http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/201 ... hullabaloo
Q: Lastly, what about traditional animation is special to you?
James Lopez: To see something created from thin air, from some unseen place, and not from a default pose or pre-fabricated puppet is mystifying to me. To see a static drawing, a piece of artwork, come to life is truly magical. It’s like watching a magic trick. I can wrap my head around how animation is done on a computer but when it comes to drawn animation, and when it’s down well, it totally escapes me. It keeps me engaged.
Source:
http://www.traditionalanimation.com/201 ... mes-lopez/
Lopez has received emails from fans across the world, thanking him and the Hullabaloo team for striving to keep 2D animation alive. “Art is a common language that unites the world,” he explained. “2D animation is an art. To lose 2D would be like losing a language.” 2D also serves to inspire, nurturing culture in the process. “I was able to experience the joy of it because it was passed down from the generation before,” he said. “I feel compelled to keep it in practice and pass it down so the next generation of artists so they, too, can continue to pass it on for future generations to enjoy.”
Source:
https://www.sweetyhigh.com/blog/girl-po ... hullabaloo
