the demise of traditional animation

Hey, I read over the discussion about the future of traditional animation, and I just wanted to make sure everyone on this list is fully informed of recent developments.

Are all of you aware that Disney already anounced a few months ago that it will officially make no more traditionally animated movies?

Earlier this year, Disney's traditional animation prospects recieved their final blow with the terrible failure of the disgraceful animated movie Home on the Range, a story about a group of renegade cows that kidnap a guy to gain reward money so they can save their farm :D :) :( :? :x :evil: . ...and That was possibly the very last traditional animated movie we're gonna see for a long time, if not ever.

Sadly, just as I predicted, traditional animation did not go out in a glorious bang, but flickered out with a sad, sad whimper.

After the lackluster premiere and dissapointing failure of Brother Bear, a movie that I think had great potential and that I had great hopes for, Disney shut down its Orlando, Florida animation studios, the last stronghold of traditional animation. The Florida studio also produced the films Mulan and Lilo and Stitch, which are pretty much the only good animated works that have come out of Disney since the post-Lion King abyss.

I still bought Brother Bear on DVD, because I am still amazed at the incredible realism of the animation, and it is a pretty good movie. However, it is still far too kiddy-ish.

You may not know this, but in its developments, Disney actually had plans of making it a movie with a much darker, more serious theme. Instead of a childish, obnoxious bear cub, Kenai was originally to be accompanied by an adult bear that knew his way around. It was also originally not going to be full of childish kiddie-movie songs written by Phil Collins and Tina Turner. I'm not sure if it would have been more successful if it had been released that way, but I think it at least might have possibly spawned a fan base similar to the legions of TLK and Balto freaks.

...But as for the original plans for the movie, as what happens most of the time, too far down the line of development the unwise bureacracy of cornball uncreative disney executives ordered the original plans to be eviscerated and a new far more kiddie-oriented plotline was thrown together. Still an ok movie, but it could have been alot better. ...AND I HATED THE SAMMON SONG!!! BLECH!!!

...for more thoughts on why brother bear failed, here's an excerpt from a guy I know named Gary Coulbourne.

"I suspect that the film had two problems, or at least two
that I saw. The first was marketing, it was targeted at a younger
audience, which locked out a large block of potential viewers. The other,
though, was subtler. The film couldn't make up its mind. When I first
heard about the project in 1999, it was going to be very dark, no comedy
at all, or almost none... they were very solid on some films: The
Emperor's New Grove was a straight comedy, The Hunchback of Notre Dame was pretty much straight drama. Brother Bear on the other hand, would likely have been better if it were targeted at a more mature audience and kept fairly dark. The late addition of the moose, and the changing of the original script from including a "mentor" character to having the young Koda as a ward, I think marred the film.

I also feel that the change in aspect ratio after Kenai's transformation,
and the corresponding change in colors and drawing style, marred the film
as well. I understand that was done to highlight his new perspective, but
it also changed the tone of the film in a way that didn't really work for
me.

Still, for all of my complaints, it is a bear movie, and if it inspires
anyone to get out and learn more about the real animals, or if it makes
people more willing to be involved in making sure that bears (and indeed
all life) will be here in the future... well, then I'm glad for it. (And,
even own the DVD, so... I can't complain too loudly ;) )

Peace,
Gary"

end of excerpt


allright, I'm really sorry about all that, I really got off the ball, didn't I?

anyway, back to traditional animation in general,

Disney was the juggernaut of traditional animation, and its downfall is a sign of things to come. Sadly, as of now, to me those things to come appear to be nothing at all.

..All the other movie companies have also been shutting down their traditional animation enterprises as well, and this all seems to be a very sad apocalyptic ending for traditional animation as we know it. (for now)

...As for computer animation, Disney recently divorced Pixar as well, and the Incredibles is the last effort they have done together. I believe that their past great movies of Toy Story and Finding Nemo are mostly of Pixar's handiwork, and Disney had little to do with their excellent appeal and success.

...Pixar may hopefully have the resources to start up its own independent production, or perhaps join with a more worthy studio, but as for Disney, I guarantee you whatever CG stuff they make on their own in the future will be absolute dreck.

ok, I'm sorry about all that, I know that's not very related with the regular intended discussion topics of this list, but I just had to cover those points to make sure that all of you are informed on what is going on in the world of animation.

For more about the demise of Disney's traditional animation, read this article from savedisney.com, an organization run by Roy E. Disney for the cause of overthrowing the corrupt current Disney CEO Michael Eisner.

http://www.savedisney.com/news/features/fe090704.1.asp

I insist you read this article, it even mentions why Don Bluth left Disney!

In conclusion, I believe that we are currently witnessing the demise and downfall of the "Disney Dynasty". When this empire falls, we must ask ourselves who will rise up from the ashes of millions of burned animation cells to ressurect the treasured art form of traditional animation.

What do all you think should be done to bring back traditional animation to what it was in its golden years?

I too saw Brother Bear during its short run in theatres and while it may not have been the best that Disney had to offer, at least (in my opinion anyway), it was far from the worst.
Getting back to the subject at hand, I've always felt that to a large extent, it is up to the people in the audience (that's right, you & I) to make our feelings known to those that produce and distribute these films. If we continue to purchase admittance tickets for schlock, then schlock is what we will get. If on the other hand, we say no in no uncertain terms to the dreck that too often passes for cheap entertainment, the studio bigwigs will have to take notice at some point. I'm not saying that this will be easy, but it is something that must be done if Classical Animation is to be saved. Indeed, we have already witnessed the pull-out of Disney from the Classical Animation market. I for one, would hate to see a total withdrawal from this market by the rest of the other studios involved.

Well, is there anyone left? What movie studios are still making traditionally animated movies? I havn't heard about any upcoming proposed traditional animated movies in the works at all lately. It almost seems to me like they're gone for good. Universal already shut down its animation studios in 2000 immediately after the tremendous flop of 'Titan AE'. Also, with the mega-popularity of the Shrek movies, and the minimum success of 'Spirit: Stallion of the Cimmaron', I'm betting Dreamworks just isn't going to bother picking up its pencils anymore. Who else is there left? 21st Century Fox? Paramount? MGM? Viacom?

...Michael Eisner?

OH GOD NO!!!

IT'S TOO BIG!!!

TOO BIG!!!

WHEW.... That was close... I was afraid I might not be able to change it. That wasn't a good idea at all. I've got to find a smaller, less wierd image for my avatar, one that doesn't take up the whole screen and isn't of me making a wierd face. ;)

To GrizzlyCoon,

I stand corrected. I was not aware that Universal had pulled out after Titan AE. Oh what a sad situation we find ourselves in today. A world without the magic, the color, and joy that a Classical Animated film can bring. I'm not saying that some of the CG products of late are not worthy, but for me, the world will be a much more somber, even darker place without Traditional Animation.

Hey, don't worry,

there's still some hope left for traditional animation.

You know, there's still that SpongeBob Squarepants movie coming out soon! eh? eh?... so yeah, I was wrong, there is at least one new traditional animated movie still coming out in theatres soon.

ah... Spongebob.

.....................yep.

Spongebob. the very last tradionally animated movie in history is Spongebob.

I think it's sad, even pathetic that something like "Spongbob" should become our last bastion of hope as far as Classical Animation is concerned. MY GOD!! Have we really sunk this low?? JEEZ!!!

I don´t know how long it will take until the english synchronization is finished, but the classically animated movie "Lauras Stern" (Laura´s Star) has already been distributed by Warner Bros. in Germany.
It has been produced by animators from several european countries and is the adaption of a popular children book with the same name.

Here is the entry of "Laura´s Star" in an movie archive[=http://www.german-cinema.de/archive/film_view.php?film_id=1086]Here is the entry of "Laura´s Star" in an movie archive. Be prepared for a interesting surprise at the end of the first column.

Thanks Martin, that was quite interesting. It's nice to see that traditional animation isn't completely gone. Mind you, there is still a fair amount of traditionally animated films and shows coming from Japanese studios. However an increasing number of these are featuring CGI elements and I worry it's only a matter of time before cell animation is lost from these productions too.

This reply is also to Grizzly coon`s 'hope remains' were I think he was repying to martin siedow`s "LAURA`S STAR" link .

I agree that there is hope for classic animation and maybe not in the united states, I see after reading martin siedow`s link on the movie "LAURA`S STAR" (thanks martin! :D ), it is clear that at lest for now, that others will carry on with classical animation where some given up on it, it`s some comfort.

I agree with Procyon that japan still does a fair amount of classic animation, it would be sad to me to see Japanese animation slip to the CGI mode becuase I lived in japan during the latter part of my childhood and that was where my love for animation was born. :)