motion-capture Tagged Articles at Cinematical
Robert Zemeckis to Adapt 'The Nutcracker' Next?
Filed under: Animation », Deals », RumorMonger », Family Films »
Here's the thing about Bob Zemeckis and all his newfangled motion-capture outings. When put to more mythic use in Beowulf, I was more drawn in by the adventure and less distracted by the characters. However, between The Polar Express and A Christmas Carol, I couldn't help but be re-struck time and time again but that unfortunate uncanny valley, especially when the characters look so much like the real thing (see: Gary Oldman as Cratchit) that I'd just as soon watch them give live-action performances that would then go surrounded by countless effects (you know, the way they used to make movies).That disappointing truth, combined with last weekend's good-not-great opening for Carol, isn't getting Zemeckis down, though. According to Pajiba, he's pursuing The Nutcracker as his next holiday adaptation to be 'enhanced' by mo-cap technology. (I think it's fairly safe to assume after Carol and Express that this will likely end up in 3-D as well.) The site says that he'll be working from E.T.A. Hoffman's original novel over the Tchaikovsky ballet, "a period piece, set in 19th century Russia, which will explore how the cursed Nutcracker character came to be and the battle between the dolls and the mice."
Well, that shows how much I remember of the original tale (a war between dolls and mice?). Personally, I just want this one to go on the busy man's back burner if it means getting that Roger Rabbit sequel done sooner. At least the bunny doesn't creep me out with his lifeless eyes...
Animators Not Thrilled With Mick Lasalle
Filed under: Animation », Celebrities and Controversy », Family Films », Newsstand »
The San Francisco Chronicle's movie critic Mick Lasalle has really raised the ire of the animation community with his review of Monster House, in which he lauds the film's use of motion-capture animation (first used by Monster House producer Robert Zemeckis in Polar Express) as a technological advancement the likes of which the animation world has never seen. The review spawned outrage amid professional animators, who took particular offense to the line " ... There was never any point to a close-up in an animated film -- there was never really anything to see."
Industry professionals have apparently not been shy about letting Lasalle know they think he's an idiot, and that he should have better researched his topic before writing about it. Among the throng responding to the review was Pixar story artist Jeff Pidgeon, who sent a politely-worded response to the SF Chron on the subject. Lasalle, who apparently isn't in any hurry to mend fences with the animators of the world, reportedly responded thusly: "Thank you for a thoughtful message. I appreciate it. (Don't agree with it, any of it, but I appreciate being accurately quoted and not being cursed at.)"
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