Is 2D Feature Animation Truly Dead?

May 16, 2013 in ANIMATION, THE SIMPSONS NEWS

ANIMATION – Is 2D Feature Animation Truly Dead?

Simpsons Quotes:Is 2D Feature Animation Truly Dead

“Don’t thank me, thank Hollywood for being completely out of good ideas.” ~ Herman Melwood

Are 2D feature animated films viable?  Can they make money.  Does the general public know the difference between 2D animated movies and CG animated movies? Do they care? Are American animated movies doomed to one genre of films? Namely, family movies?

There’s a lot of questions there.  I don’t know the answers but I want to start the conversation here.  This is what this week’s post is about.

You can either read the post or watch the video.  The information in generally the same but not exactly:

Disney Throws Out Its 2D Department

As of the time of this writing, Disney pretty much got rid off all their 2D animators and have no plans to make any new 2D animated movies.  They will all be CG.

I wrote about this a couple of weeks ago but I think it was kinda lost in the post. Especially since it was at the bottom the post and I didn’t make a video of version of my essay. I’m bringing it up again because I’d really like your opinion The-Hat-Building-webon this topic.

Last week my colleagues at The Corner Booth went to the “hat building” at Disney and spoke to Dale Baer.  We asked him about 2D animation and he confirmed that it was dead. At least, as far as feature film animation is concerned.

An Earlier Discussion I  had About This Topic

And of course, I wrote earlier about the huge discussion over this topic I had with Richie Chavez and Paul Wee.

Here’s a little of what I had written in that post. If you want to read the whole thing feel free to go and read it:

I’m still hopeful about 2d.  I think audiences want to see 2d animated movies.

Richie, had a different opinion.  He doesn’t think audiences care.  He doesn’t even think audiences know the difference.

The reality is that the last two 2d movies Disney came out with didn’t do well.  Never mind the fact that one wasn’t all that well written and the other didn’t really appeal to most people…

That second movie was referring to here was Winnie the Pooh. A movie based on a Disney franchise,  I think,  ruined by it’s direct to DVD sequels.  There’s nothing special or exciting about the franchise anymore. What did they expect?

…How about the “average” person who never thinks about animation at all? Do they feel the same way about 2d animated movies?

We discussed what “average” person meant and narrowed it down to: “parents/families.” Someone looking for something with good values they can trust.

But this begged the question:

Is that the ONLY market for animated movies.  Why not target other markets like anime does?  The answer from the discussion was this:

  1. Anime which is released in theaters that target those other markets, don’t really make all that much money. Even Studio Ghibli movies.

  2. Rise of the Guardians, was more teen centric and it didn’t do all that well (and it was CG!).

Different Genres in American Animation

I think the main flaw with testing different genres of animated movies using anime is that anime has a negative stigma attached to it in the eyes of many people. And Rise of the Guardians being marketed to teens…well…bad idea.  No teenager is going to get all excited to go watch a movie about Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny just because they look “hip.”  That’s just bad foresight on the part of Dreamworks.

That said, there’s a few 2D animated European movies, like The Illusionist, which have gotten a lot of acclaim, yet, I don’t think they’ve made much money here in the U.S..

I’m still of the opinion that 2D animation would work with the right story.

If you’re a fan of 2D movies, you will go see them. But if you’re not, why not?  Why don’t you watch them?  What would get you to go watch a 2D animated movie?  If you used to like them but now you don’t, what happened?

I’d love to know. Let’s discuss.  I’m in the inside looking out scratching my head.

This shouldn’t be happening, but why is it?


 

 

THE SIMPSONS NEWS – My Hiatus is Almost Over

This week is my last week of hiatus.  I actually had more fun and relaxed more than I thought I would. Thanks to having our tax return show up just in the nick of time.

I’m going to miss the time off and spending time with the kids, but I’ll enjoy getting the paycheck every week.

Though I relaxed, I’ve still done quite a bit of work too and learned a few things.

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