Charles Solomon reflects on quality animation.
2009 IN ANIMATION: SOMETHING IN THE WAY THEY MOVE
... Character animation — the art of making a figure move in ways that convey a unique personality — dates back to Walt Disney’s 1933 watershed cartoon Three Little Pigs. ... [D]irector Chuck Jones commented, “Three Little Pigs proved it wasn’t how a character looked but how he moved that determined his personality. All we animators were dealing with after Three Little Pigs was acting.”
At a time when so many CG characters chatter nonstop, it’s easy to forget how many memorable scenes in animated films communicate feelings through pure movement, from the Seven Dwarfs weeping over Snow White’s bier to Chihiro riding the mysterious train in Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away. ...
Decades ago, I asked animator Ollie Johnston, "Of all the animated features you've worked on, which one's your favorite?"
I expected him to say "Bambi" or "Pinocchio" or maybe even "Lady and the Tramp." But he peered off into middle distance and said: "Robin Hood."
Stunned, I said, "Really? Why that one?"
He replied: "Because I really liked the characters I had in the picture. And the acting I did with them. Robin Hood's got some of the best animation."
Ollie might be right, although I think RH's weaker story and art direction undercuts the feature. But I take his point about animation acting. Film reviewers mention the quality of the acting in cartoon features not at all, yet it's with live-action pictures on a regular basis: "Daniel Day Lewis and George Clooney give knock-out performances in the new release Grand Emoting,...".
But you'll be old, feeble and residing in an assisted living facility before you'll see that kind of analysis regarding an animated feature. It just never happens. The quality of the acting isn't something mainstream reviewers think about or consider.
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26 comments:
I wonder if Ollie made a point of NOT citing his work in one of the "old" films the better to get across that he didn't live in the past and that he'd done his best animation pretty recently. It's a natural human thing to not want to wallow in nostalgia when you're still-or have very recently been-a working professional.
I've read things like that a million times from artists whose work spans decades(and their choices for "favorite" work almost always contrast what the public or fans would say).
Of course, the character animation in Robin Hood IS excellent.
Nice article by charles solomon.
I loved that scene of Louis jumping on board the boat and playing his trumpet.Does anybody know who animated that scene?
Steve-
Sorry, I know this is VERY off-topic, but with tax season coming up, is there any list of tax accountants with a particular knowledge of and emphasis on the animation industry that the union keeps?
If not, this might be a good resource to create. I'm assuming there may be a number of deductions or tax strategies that are particular to us folks in the animation (and related) industries that your average H&R Block guy probably has no clue about.
Charles Solomon actually made some questionable comments in that article. "Aster"? I don't recall a character in "Astro Boy" named "Aster". And what was wrong with the character animation in "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs"? Seemed pretty effective to me.
In response to the off-topic inquiry about a smart, animation savvy tax preparer, I've used Rae Ellen Tate at Tate and Associates for about 15 years and I think she and her associates are the greatest! Here's the info:
Name: Tate & Associates
Street: 9795 Cabrini Dr, #105
Burbank, ca 91504-1739
Phone: (818) 768-5207
Tell them Bob Foster sent you.
Thanks for the tip, I'll check them out.
I’d be willing to bet most mainstream film reviewers have had the opportunity to visit a movie set, so they have a degree of understanding the process.
Since the same reviewers have never seen an animator at work, they really have no idea what animators do. Is it any wonder there’s no analysis of acting in animation?
I have been using Tate too, for several years, (thanks to Bob). I agree, they're terrific. Add my endorsement.
Steven Muller
The problem with Meatballs is the animation was pretty much all "characterless." Same with Princess and the Frog, although it had some here and there (thank you Nik Raneri!!).
Astroboy was just bad.
No, Astro Boy was not "bad". I've heard from people who saw it who said they almost cried during certain scenes because they found it so touching. Inspiring that kind of emotion requires good animation, the type that makes you care about a character. That's hardly "bad".
Astro Boy touched me so much, I broke down in deep, heaving sobs. Not even theater staff could silence my plaintive wails, as I writhed on the floor overcome by the pathos of Astro and his friends. By the end credits, my undergarments were a sticky, tarred mass of lumpy diarrhea, smeared in my profound emotionalism upon every aisle in the theater.
THAT'S how good the character animation was, goddammit!
"I writhed on the floor overcome by the pathos of Astro and his friends. By the end credits, my undergarments were a sticky, tarred mass of lumpy diarrhea, smeared in my profound emotionalism."
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Please stop.
Grow up, or just go back to commenting over on Ain't It Cool News.
**Astro Boy touched me so much, I broke down in deep, heaving sobs. Not even theater staff could silence my plaintive wails**blah blah blah
Egad, someone has issues.
astroboy was god awful. And no, it didn't really have any "character animation" in it. Do people still even know what the term "Character Animation" MEANS? Every character moved the same, and like every other film (only not as well). NOTHING about the writing or animation (or design) was unique or well observed.
It was CRAP.
And it flopped. BIG time.
My wish for 2010?
That the commenter who must ALWAYS bring up Astro Boy and derail EVERY comment thread here either get over it, or just stop coming here.
Seriously. Enough is enough. No matter how good (or bad) it was.
Iron Giant "flopped. BIG time."
Some terrible character animation in that puppy.
We've apparently pissed off the Astro Boy fan. So in the spirit of the holiday season, let me just say:
Happy New Year, Astro Boy fan!
I hope things are going well for you, and that this year will be a wonderful time for you and your family.
I don't know which of us you're referring to, but for my part, thanks for the good wishes. ;)
I can only add that, for my part, I liked Astro Boy a lot and think it has been unfairly maligned. I agree with the person who said that the article in question made some ridiculous statements about character animation and, as another person pointed out, didn't even get the name right (Aster?). Also, it wasn't the person supporting the Astro movie who got obnoxious about all this. Just sayin'.
Now, since nobody is going to change anyone's mind here, I'm sawing off. Happy new year to you too.
Astro Boy was a good, solid film. It deserved better.
Astro Boy got what it deserved. It really was a weak film. The audience that saw it thought it a waste of time. It's not even on DVD until March, and will flop in that format, too.
Yahoo Movie's user boards gave Astro Boy a B+, and Rotten Tomatoes' user boards gave it a Fresh rating. The IMDB's boards gave it a high rating as well. Among the comments there: "Fantastic from start to finish", "Excellent movie for kids and adults", "An Atom Bomb of Spectacular Goodness", "A Thoroughly Delightful Film", "A Lot Of Fun", "Amazingly Better Than Expected", etc. Here's the link to the user reviews: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0375568/usercomments?start=10
I'm offering these facts as an antidote to the ignorant spew that precedes this post. Thank you and good night.
I know it's difficult for the fanboys and pixies and whatever else invade these boards to understand, but the one thing that is clear is that the first week a film is out has very little to do with it is a good film or not or if it's an well animated film or not, etc, etc.
The first week shows how well marketed the film is and how interested the public is in seeing it as well as what it is up against and whether there was ever any interest in seeing the film or not.
If a film has a drastic dropoff the second week then you can argue that it may well be because of the quality of the film.
To the above commentator: THANK YOU!
Get over Astro Boy already, christ.
I dont care if it wins an oscar or cures cancer. Just shut up about it already. Please
If you don't like it, don't read it. The one with the problem is YOU, my friend. This blog is for discussion. If it isn't interesting to YOU, ignore. Not too tough a concept.
Astro Boy touched me so much, I broke down in deep, heaving sobs. Not even theater staff could silence my plaintive wails, as I writhed on the floor overcome by the pathos of Astro and his friends. By the end credits, my undergarments were a sticky, tarred mass of lumpy diarrhea, smeared in my profound emotionalism upon every aisle in the theater.
THAT'S how good the character animation was, goddammit!
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