Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Lima in Mumbai

An old Disney hand travels to DreamWorks Animation:

Kevin Lima, who directed Disney’s animated Tarzan before transitioning to the live-action hits 102 Dalmations and Enchanted, is returning to his roots. Lima has signed on to helm DreamWorks Animation’s Monkeys of Mumbai, which is assembling a highly pedigreed creative team. ...

Earlier today I talked to a wise old animation veteran (and feature director) who said:

"Most animation directors who go over to live-action never come back. Frank Tashling didn't. I don't think Brad [Bird] will. And I'd be surprised if Stanton goes back after John Carter of Mars" ...

I brought up the name of Tim Burton, who still keeps a hand in the animation business, but the Wise Old Vet said "Tim's just producing now." Right, sure, I thought to myself. Alice In Wonderland has no animation at all.

Because, face it. Animation in 2011 isn't the sleepy little ghetto it was a couple of decades ago. In the 21st century, animated features are Big Box Office, and any number of high-profile filmmakers are in them up to their eyebrows, one way or the other.

Michael Bay directs giant robots that most definitely aren't live action. Spielberg has jumped into mo-cap animation with Tin-tin. And Jim Cameron made a high-grossing movie that had a poop-load of animation. So the question is, where do the animation directors end and the live-action directors start? And what, exactly, is a live-action feature, anyway? Or an animated feature? Seems as though the genres have long-since blended together.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

That director your friend mentioned was Frank Tashlin, not Tashling.

Derrick said...

This movie is gonna be great. I hope that Brenda finally returns to DW.

Anonymous said...

More interestingly than who's directing it is, this is Dreamworks first entire feature FARMED OUT TO INDIA.

This....is the beginning of the end.

Anonymous said...

You keep saying that, but there hasn't been any news of that whatsoever.

Anonymous said...

After showing the way to china with Kung fu Panda now is time to do the same with India.

Anonymous said...

The past few days or so on here I keep seeing that DW is farming out their films to India. I have not read this anywhere that this is true. They have amazing talent here to do the animation. Again, if you state something like that then post with a link to the article or website that you received this info from. Get it got it good.

Anonymous said...

More interestingly than who's directing it is, this is Dreamworks first entire feature FARMED OUT TO INDIA.
Wait- DreamWorks is outsourcing?

Anonymous said...

This good enough for you?

JOb postings for Dreamworks positions in India through Technicolor.

http://www.technicolor.com/en/hi/animation-vfx/animation/careers

Wake up and smell the curry.

Anonymous said...

Thats a lot of jobs!

Anonymous said...

Kevin Lima is brilliant. DW is VERY lucky to have him---along with Dean DuBlois the 2 best directors at DW.

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