Hand-Drawn Animation Dead at Disney

[disneyprincess11]

To fellow Steven Universe fans: James Baxter is an animator for the show and he incredibly animated Steven in this scene! Good goodness!

MAJOR SPOILERS FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN'T SEEN BODY OF MIND AND HEART YET

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jjd1hVEwXQo

[Disney's Divinity]

I didn’t open the YouTube clip; they take forever to load for me. Was it the scene where White Diamond removed Steven’s gem because she didn’t believe Pink Diamond was really gone and then he and his double dance around laughing?

The movie was really good for anyone who didn't see it, btw

[Rumpelstiltskin]

From a 1995 article:

http://archive.fortune.com/magazines/fo ... /index.htm

Code: Select all

 Characters, sets, and props resurfaced in one film after another. Such efficiencies helped Pixar make Toy Story with a staff of just 110--roughly one-sixth the number Disney and others employ to make an animated feature. Disney hopes to use similar processes to cut the number of animators on its own projects.

While Toy Story is only now moving into the public eye, much of Pixar's 150-person staff has already gone on to other projects.

Creating a CGI character and environment takes a lot more effort than doing it by hand, but once completed, they can be reused indefinitely. I features we are probably talking about minor stuff like trees, a background character here and there, pigeons, cars and bikes, assuming the movie allows it.

But in animated shows on television, such as Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, after all the buildings, vehicles and characters have been designed, each new episode should be a lot cheaper and faster to make than if you had to draw everything by hand like for instance the Lilo & Stitch series. But it comes with a cost; it is less likely to see any new elements when they are only reusing what already exist.

[Sotiris]

To fellow Steven Universe fans: James Baxter is an animator for the show and he incredibly animated Steven in this scene!

James Baxter posted the pencil test for that scene.

[DisneyEra]

Old News Paper clip from the Lewiston Daily Sun from Sept. 1984, less than a year before Black Cauldron's July 1985 release.

[Sotiris]

I hate it when people claim to know what Walt would or wouldn't have done. Especially if it's to prop up CG animation and justify the demise of 2D animation at Disney. The thing is we don't know what he would have thought of it. Just because he embraced technology in certain areas, does not necessarily mean he would have liked CG animation or preferred it over 2D animation. He may have found it aesthetically unappealing and off-putting or he may have used it in a hybrid or complementary way to 2D animation. Who knows? Stop putting the end of 2D animation at Disney on Walt!

While Clements has directed a number of Disney films, each using the most sophisticated technology available at the time of production, including the 2016 CG hit animated musical, Moana, his focus is less on the prevailing technology than on the heart and soul of a good story. “It's interesting that The Little Mermaid took four years to make, with hundreds of people working on the movie,” he explains. “Nowadays, in the age of digital animation, it takes about four years and hundreds of people to make an animated movie. Actually, it takes more people, in some ways. So, it has never been about, ‘Well, computers can do what the artists couldn't do.’ Having worked in both worlds, story and characters are still the heart of the films, regardless of how they're made.”

“More importantly, you don't want to keep doing the same thing over and over,” he continues. “I agree when people say Walt Disney was always looking for new ways to make films and would have embraced digital animation. At the same time, I have a love for traditional hand-drawn animation and feel there's a place for that in the future as well. But I think in either sense, you just don't want to repeat yourself and do the same thing over and over. There are so many different kinds of movies that can be made with animation, and it's exciting to explore those options.”

Henn agrees. “If this technology had been around with Walt, clearly, he would have embraced it and introduced it to his staff,” he adds. “But just like Ron said, it still boils down to telling stories. You find good stories, compelling characters, and then, it’s up to the filmmaker's imagination, and the artists involved, to make the right choices in how it all comes together. It still boils down, essentially, to story and character.”

Source: https://www.awn.com/animationworld/ron- ... le-mermaid

[JTurner]

I don't see what's objectionable about Clements or Henn's quote. They're saying that it ultimately comes down to telling a good story. They are right about that. And they did say that they are fond of 2D animation and hope it has a place in the future. I don't see the issue here. Now I do agree that it was a stupid idea for Disney to shift away from 2D. But I'm not hearing either of these two trashing 2D in this quiet.

[Disney's Divinity]

I think Walt would have pursued 3D films, certainly. I don't believe he would've dropped hand-drawn animation though. Most likely he would've juggled the mediums the same way he did with live-action.

[Sotiris]

Great news!

Duncan Animation Studio Moves Into Original Content With Duncan Originals, Unveils Inaugural Development Slate
https://deadline.com/2019/04/duncan-stu ... 202586173/

[unprincess]

that's awesome! I think the current streaming trend is really going to be a boom for 2d as a lot of these new streaming platforms are desperate for unique content. I know they didn't mention streaming in the article but I wouldn't be surprised if some of this studio's work ends up on one of these platforms.

As for Walt and 3d CGI, I think he would have loved CGI but I don't think he would have used it the way Disney and the other studios have, where they've just completely abandoned 2d or only used it sparingly to enhance CGI films, but just the opposite. I think he would have used it to enhance the 2d animation(like how Disney was already doing in the 90's-2000's,) as well as make 2d easier or less expensive to make, like how he used the Xerox process for Dalmatians. I think he would have definitely kept the more organic hand-drawn look around. I think he would have loved the techniques used for Paperman and Feast and what Sergio Pablos is doing with Klaus. But he would have hated the sterile hyper-real of the majority of Hollywood CGI animated films today.

[JTurner]

Great news!

Duncan Animation Studio Moves Into Original Content With Duncan Originals, Unveils Inaugural Development Slate
https://deadline.com/2019/04/duncan-stu ... 202586173/

Glad to see them getting more work. Their sequence on Mary Poppins Returns was arguably the highlight of that film.

[D82]

Their sequence on Mary Poppins Returns was arguably the highlight of that film.

Definitely, at least for me. I'm also glad for them.

[JeanGreyForever]

It was the highlight of the film for me as well so definitely psyched about this.

[REINIER]

Duncan studios will set things right again...Maybe not overnight...but they will...

[NeverLand]

During #Annecy animation festival , #Netflix Premiered Footage from First Original Animated Feature ‘Klaus’ In 2D

https://www.instagram.com/p/By2dPhTB5Dd ... dyo7bthr15

[Kyle]

I cant wait to see a trailer or something new from Klaus. Give me a release date at least. its been a long time coming.

Also, thought I'd throw this in here. Its Warner Brothers first preview of the new Looney Tunes shorts. I don't particularly care for their take on bug's personality, but the animation is nice, if a bit too frantic. Still, the high frame rate and smear frames make this look very true to the golden age shorts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KK541L5x_IY

[Farerb]

I cant wait to see a trailer or something new from Klaus. Give me a release date at least. its been a long time coming.

Also, thought I'd throw this in here. Its Warner Brothers first preview of the new Looney Tunes shorts. I don't particularly care for their take on bug's personality, but the animation is nice, if a bit too frantic. Still, the high frame rate and smear frames make this look very true to the golden age shorts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KK541L5x_IY

I really enjoyed it. I hope Warner Brothers do The Ice Dragon in traditional animation.

[Disney Duster]

Kyle, Bugs has the same personality.

Anyway, I liked it! Just didn't like Bugs' yellow gloves.

[Kyle]

I dont remember bugs attacking anyone like that. As someone in the cartoon brew comments points out, he was more about turning other peoples weapons and traps against them. Not generating his own explosives for a non stop onslaught.

[Disney Duster]

I suppose he may not have attacked people the same way before...but he still attacked people. And I just swear he used his own weapons on people sometimes.