Cinematical

According to cartoonbrew.com Chris Sanders was relieved of directing duties on American Dog last week.

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WHOO-HOO!!!

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*points to Phil's post*

On topic, I'm certainly relieved (and here, I am thinking of "Chicken Little."). Personally, though, poor understanding of vibrant animation is only equally important to hiring seasoned VOICE actors. Trendy choices for actors have doomed Disney worse than the largely mediocre imagination and animation abilities of its employees.

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Also, though Lasseter really let many down with "Cars," this and his revival of Disney shorts have earned my respect, at least.

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It's a brilliant idea. Disney's hand-drawn classics are beautiful to look at, and there's just some things you cannot duplicate in CG.

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"This change, just announced today by John Lasseter and Ed Catmull"

Source please. (not Jim Hill).

When and where did John & Ed make this announcement ?

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There's nothing to compare to hand-drawn. I find most of the Pixar stuff ugly and disturbing. Lilo & Stitch on the other hand was gorgeous and proved you could still do it well and cheap. I have nothing but the highest regards for Chris Sanders and look forward to anything touched by his skilled hands.

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GhaleonQ what do you know about 'vibrant' animation, as you call it? you comments about disney's employees relfect a complete ingnorance of the company.

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What are you talking about? There are beautiful sides to both types of animation. I find the two most beautiful animations I've ever seen to be Howls Moving Castle as well as Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within.

Each also has their own failures. I'm sure you can come up with hundreds of each.

I personally am of the opinion that they should STOP concentrating on the cinematics.. and start going with actual storyline that touches people. I am SO TIRED of seeing a movie and saying "meh. Completely unmemorable" afterwards.

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Jennifer DeFilippo please cite your SOURCE?

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Angie and David, please find the SOURCE in two places. Highlighted in the post "announced today" as well as at the bottom link "Read." Both places will bring you directly to the article on IMDB.

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The imdb story cites Jim Hill's speculation as its authority. This story is citing imdb. No one is offering any direct information to support this supposed cancellation of 3d work. It's nothing more than an internet echo chamber aided by people who have no clue about what's really going on.

In fact, there was no such announcement. What Jim Hill says is, "Yep. Following the release of "Meet the Robinsons," Ed & John would like WDFA to go back into the traditional animation business."

And imdb and this article takes that as an official annoucement from someone, rather than Jim's attempt at mind reading.

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The highlighted "announced today" and the bottom link "Read" both go to IMDB , which is quoting the Jim Hill Media article which does not quote any official source from Disney. The above blog post says: "This change, just announced today by John Lasseter and Ed Catmull, will take place in Walt Disney Co.'s Burbank studios, leaving Pixar to exclusively work on CGI projects." But , in fact, there was no such announcement made by John Lasseter and Ed Catmull on Dec. 19 or Dec. 20, 2006 .

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Hey Jennifer...What I seem to recall about the CGI
movies, particularly when "The Incredibles" was being
made was that the computer try to make the character's movement too real and came off looking so
unreal that animators of the hand drawn school were
brought in to teach how to make the movements look more natural.If no one is taught how to, then how can
your CGI stuff evolve?

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3D is only part of the reason Pixar had had great success with their movies. Lasseter understands that the most important part to a movie is the story. Lilo and Stitch did well not because it was hand drawn, but because it had a great story, and that is where Disney has failed in the past 10 years. Keep in mind, their 3D stuff has not done well either. The only other 3D animation studio that has dome well is the people that did Shreak, again, great stories.

Lasseter had made it clear that it the story. 3D is just a media for telling the story. Disney has been using technology as an excuse for their lousy sales, completely forgetting, the story. It is great that they now have and individual back at Disney that understands that the media is not what will make a great STORY.

So get it, STORY!!!

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Jennifer,

I just wanted to clarify my remarks above: the reason I am being so insistent on why it is important to have a first-hand source for statements like "This change, just announced today by John Lasseter and Ed Catmull" is because this effects me deeply where I live and work .
I love animation, particularly hand-drawn animation. Nothing would please me more than to see Disney Feature Animation return to its' legacy of classic, hand-drawn character animation . I was one of the many people who lost their job at Disney as a result of the decision several years ago to toss the legacy of hand-drawn animation and concentrate exclusively on CG . So, my bias is certainly in favor of Disney returning to hand-drawn animation in a big way. However , that said, I'm not against CG animation at all. I love the Pixar films and other examples of good CG animation. I think people who put down CG animation in favor of hand-drawn (or vice versa) are misguided . I don't think there needs to be an "either/or" attitude (either hand-drawn, or CG , to the exclusion of one or the other) , but both types of animation are valid and exciting mediums for making animated films. I think most of us who are actually in the animation business feel the same way. It's not the artists who try to pit one form of animation against the other. Personally , I think it makes great business and artistic sense to have each studio, Pixar and Disney Feature Animation, doing their own distinctive style of film, one using CG animation and the other using hand-drawn animation , the best of both worlds.

I just think we need to wait to actually hear John Lasseter and Ed Catmull announce their plans for the future of Disney Animation before we think this is a done deal.

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About time!

We haven't seen the beauty of Notre Dame in Hunchback or the thrill the likes of Beauty and the Beast in so long. If they could just tell a good story again, too (bring back the princesses!), I'd be in heaven!

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IMDB's post is based on an article by Jim Hill, who unfortunately is prone to wide speculation based on rumor and hearsay. There has been no announcement made by John Lasseter, Ed Catmull, or Disney.

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Oh well. Here's hoping! Even if it's blind hope...

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Yes!

Case: Star Wars through Return of the Jedi - incredible model, costume, set and puppet work.

Case: All other Star Wars movies - almost unwatchable.

Case: Blade Runner - Maybe the most beautiful model work ever.

Case: Movies that borrow from Blade Runner, but with CGI - almost unwatchable.

Case: Aristocats - frigging rad.

Case: Shrek - kids should not be subjected to this.

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