tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738814364413384768.post4580777661871705916..comments2024-03-13T23:42:25.845-07:00Comments on Animondays: Animation GogglesDavid B. Levyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12611160893518781463noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738814364413384768.post-65025551399395502422011-01-31T14:33:15.416-08:002011-01-31T14:33:15.416-08:00Dave
I agree.
It's so hard to dismiss your o...Dave<br /><br />I agree.<br /><br />It's so hard to dismiss your own biases when it comes to judging animation.<br /><br />Personally, I love it when a film looks beautiful and has a great story. But those shows that score highly visually and in their storytelling are rare gems indeed.<br /><br />I can tolerate an esoteric or non-existent story with interesting visuals. I can handle a crudely rendered film told well.<br /><br />But the worst mistake is to have no art and no story.<br /><br />Thanks for the post.<br /><br />As always - very insightful.<br />--PhilPhil Willishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00890957710311465231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738814364413384768.post-43274405542392443692011-01-31T08:15:45.557-08:002011-01-31T08:15:45.557-08:00David, I can't tell you how much of a relief i...David, I can't tell you how much of a relief it is to read this. I'm an animation student and it's frustrated me for years when someone has dismissed someone like Bill Plympton or a film like 'Rock and Rule' as "bad animation". I'm at a different school now, but I used to study in a place that held one or two studios above the rest and this was the correct way to do animation and anything else that was different or ugly was Wrong. It was beyond aggravating to try and talk to my peers about something like 'Superjail', only for them to sniff about the designs or animation being bad, when it was just different from what they considered an acceptable style (and it's beautifully designed and animated). Glad I'm in a more creative place now. The shows and films you mentioned are some of my biggest inspirations for their innovation and creativity. <br /><br />'Bob's Burgers' has such a bizarre, but hilarious design and the family stands out well from fantastic writing and acting. It seems like 'King of the Hill' never got the credit it deserved for having a consistent, realistic look to the production and for always having its comedy come from the characters. (It's also one of the few shows that has its female characters as part of the comedy instead of having a primary role as the straight man.) I'm thrilled 'Archer' is getting such a great reaction from mainstream press and I'm excited beyond words for the new 'Beavis and Butthead' episodes. 'The Illusionist' has an interesting story, but it's so melancholy I think it's throwing people off guard. It's still a brilliant movie and the tone shouldn't be changed to be more "crowd pleasing" since it's important to the film. Also the acting, designs, and environments are stunning. I went home to fuss around in Photoshop and After Effects to try and figure out how they did their mind-blowing backgrounds. (I'd go off about what's awesome about the other shows and films you listed, but I'm already straining the character limit.)<br /><br />I respect and admire the old golden age style of animation, but it's not the dictionary definition of good animation and I'm inspired to see what's new. (Vimeo has been a wonderful resource with finding animated films with unique styles.) Thanks for sharing this!Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02123397840466290060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738814364413384768.post-12642040757669112332011-01-31T08:01:17.255-08:002011-01-31T08:01:17.255-08:00It's funny how many people can't adjust to...It's funny how many people can't adjust to "The Illusionist." I was surprised to hear that people think it was dull, but I did hear the words "lost in translation" being used. (Which is funny, because there is little dialogue!) This film is a good example of how... isolated or singularly American animation has evolved so that if we are presented with a European film we are shocked that it isn't action packed and funny. At any rate, I think is beautiful to have Toy Story 3 and The Illusionist out there competing for the prize.Tristhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06740903587060744725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738814364413384768.post-19113095104302334322011-01-31T06:36:57.850-08:002011-01-31T06:36:57.850-08:00Oh.
Well I didn't get that entirely but of cou...Oh.<br />Well I didn't get that entirely but of course agree.Elliot Cowanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15952897418341461593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738814364413384768.post-60580995435531279552011-01-31T06:27:26.533-08:002011-01-31T06:27:26.533-08:00I think all those shows are designed well too, Ell...I think all those shows are designed well too, Elliot, and that they suit the style of the animation/storytelling. <br /><br />When I'm critiquing those who dismiss a show based on design I'm talking about the strain of people who only think animation should look like a Bob Clampett cartoon, for instance. <br /><br />Design is a very important element, but if its the only element than its not even animation. As soon as something is animated it, the design becomes an element of a time-based medium, and that calls for attention to story, pacing, etc, sound, etc. <br /><br />Design alone doesn't cut it. It needs a lot of other supports to make for a satisfying animated experience. Hence my issue with "animation goggles."David B. Levyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12611160893518781463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738814364413384768.post-86086702649392055182011-01-31T06:10:47.280-08:002011-01-31T06:10:47.280-08:00Also - most smart animation folks I know of aren&#...Also - most smart animation folks I know of aren't dismissing The Illusionist because it's serious, but because it's dull.Elliot Cowanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15952897418341461593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738814364413384768.post-85842025069754093882011-01-31T06:09:47.459-08:002011-01-31T06:09:47.459-08:00CB readers really did shit on Bob's Burgers al...CB readers really did shit on Bob's Burgers although I doubt how many of them are wearing animation goggles as much as they're wearing idiot goggles.<br />My Uarts students are NUTS for it.<br /><br />Personally, I'm always likely to dismiss an animated project based on the design (I dismiss a lot of stuff).<br />Bad design undermines everything the medium is about.<br />It undermines the reason 99% of us in the industry are there in the first place.<br />If there's no effort to make the show look good...innovative...interesting...whatever, then why bother in the first place?<br /><br />For the record, I like the way SP, B&B and the Simpsons are designed.<br />They are designed to suit the style of animation.<br />The Simpson's went through a design evolution over several seasons - something that isn't allowed to happen anymore - and I have some respect for that.<br /><br />Funny or not, the Archer show could not be designed worse for the animation style it's produced in.<br /><br />Without a discerning eye there is no innovation.Elliot Cowanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15952897418341461593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738814364413384768.post-22831598388116335122011-01-31T06:00:55.717-08:002011-01-31T06:00:55.717-08:00I'm fine with "story goggles," and I...I'm fine with "story goggles," and I think story is a broad term that includes so many important elements such as character development, pacing, etc. The fact that you wear them when watching animation means that you treat animation as a storytelling medium and hold it to the same standards of storytelling that you do live action, etc.<br />That's good stuff. <br /><br />My complaint is with those so traditionally minded that they don't understand or appreciate new approaches to the art form. Those are the wrong kind of animation goggles. And, they take their toll on our art form and industry.David B. Levyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12611160893518781463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738814364413384768.post-46753757770491821302011-01-31T05:32:51.611-08:002011-01-31T05:32:51.611-08:00I have to admit I wear goggles when I watch animat...I have to admit I wear goggles when I watch animation - "Story goggles." The story has to be good for me to enjoy a show. <br /><br />"Bob's Burgers" I like the design and animation, but the stories aren't good. I'll try it again in a couple of months and see if it's gotten better. Sometimes it takes time. <br /><br />"The Illusionist" has the best story of any of the features out there. (The animation is also damned good as are the backgrounds.)<br /><br />That's also my problem with the Plympton films - not the 8's. In my opinion, the stories are usually bad, especially the features. Guard Dog was great as was Your Face.<br /><br />I thought the best animated short in the original group of Oscar nominees was Michel Gagné's abstract film "Sensology". It had the best story and was brilliantly drawn, animated and produced.<br /><br />As a matter of fact, I like my goggles. I think I'll keep them.Michael Spornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02018522723674960270noreply@blogger.com