Disney Ain't Bad
I am a teenager with an extreme love of animation, so this site
and your magazine have become some of my favorite features on the
Net. However, I am offended when I read articles referring to Disney
as the Big Bad Wolf in the world of animation. Yes, I admit, it
took me some time to wean myself off the idea that Disney was
animation, but now that I have, I am angered at the description
of "children's" movies. Oh, the horrors of the sing-songy-cute-sidekick
flick, but let us welcome with open arms the "adult" animated
feature, with its characteristic swearing, sex and violence. These
things which give a movie the label of "adult" are hardly
anything admirable in the eyes of those who are going to dole out
the cash to go see them. Adults, I have always been told, are more
mature. If this is true, then why is it that the more disgusting
behavior that is in a movie, the more these "mature" adults
wish to see them? An adult movie should be described as a film that
shows concepts and plot lines that are too difficult for a child's
mind to comprehend. Though I defend "children's" movies
to the last, I still get upset when my friends say, "Oh, that
stuff's for kids." Then, I find myself explaining how adults
and teens can enjoy these movies as well; as long as we can handle
the cute puppies with the big eyes, which, by the way, are appearing
less and less lately.
So stop dissing Disney, because whatever it is they do, it works.
($$$$$)
Thanks, and sorry in advance for offending anyone.
Animateen
We Knew We'd Get Letters...
"Milestones Of The Animation Industry In The 20th Century"
(Cohen,
4.10) is a great article! I loved it -- although, to be sure
it should be titled "The History of Animation in America"
because I know darn well sure that Japan, England, Canada and other
nations were doing stuff. ;-) As a minor example: the first direct-to-video
animated release was not G.I. Joe: The Movie in 1987; the
first one was in Japan. They pioneered the direct-to-video animation
market around 1982 or abouts.
But like the writer said -- there isn't any way to cover all the
stuff that's out there.
I just have a couple of points to bring up
about the "Milestones Of The Animation Industry In The 20th
Century" (Cohen,
4.10). Someone else has most likely pointed this out but here
goes anyway.
1. I believe that Disney's Rescuers Down Under (1990) was
the first feature to be completely computerized ink & painted.
However I think that The Little Mermaid (1989) had the last
scene done on computer which would make it the first use of the
computer for ink & paint.
2. What about Disney's Beauty and the Beast being the first
animated feature nonimated for the Best Picture Oscar?
Bye for now,
Anthony Gibbs
A couple of things to add to Karl Cohen's
"Milestones Of The Animation Industry In The 20th Century"
(Cohen,
4.10) timeline in the January issue of Animation World Magazine.
September 1987 -- Debut of Captain Power and the Soldiers of
the Future, the first TV series to include regular characters
who were done with 3D computer animation. The animation was produced
by ARCCA Animation in Toronto, Canada, and was keyframed.
September 1994 -- Debut of ReBoot, the first all CGI TV series
produced by Mainframe in Vancouver, Canada, and was keyframed.
Sincerely,
Mark Mayerson
Ah, There's Hope?
I read Andrew Osmond's article on "Cartoon Movies: Acting
Their Age?" (Osmond,
4.8) and I found it to be very insightful and quite inspiring.
I am starting a business with some friends from animation school
called JENSEN Animation. We are working on an adult-oriented film.
I really liked the article because it gives me hope for more than
just Disney movies being accepted. It also gives me hope that there
will be a contrast in both adult and children's films. I thought
the story was good and I just wanted to commend Mr. Osmond on it.
From One Animator,
Melissa Jourdan