Great Info: I would like to know more specifics i.e. from experience where are good places to cut corners...(rendering with no shadows, lower paid animators, modelers?)....and where are good places to spend money (i.e. storyboards, higher paid animators, modelers?)...and so on. Very good article

Brilliant! What eloquence, marvelous choice of words! Astounding! :) Bravo!

Ohaio Kuni San, could you tell me why the faceless spirit was forgiven at the end of the film and why Sen wasn't afraid of him even though he ate everyone? I saw the film this summer in Kusatsu and I went in only with 1st semester Japanese! So I was a little lost but still happy to be there! Arigatou Goziamashitte! P.S. the nursery rhyme character is "Humpty Dumpty" not "Hampty Dampty".

Gene - You continue to refere to Charlote's Web as a failure, yet I cannot see how it was a failure on your part. You took a chance and did your very best to make sure it happened, and it's definantly not a failure on your part. You made sure you were financially covered. Plus you got to dream of that beautiful picture and work with E.B. White. Both of which are very good things that would not have happened had you not tried. All in all, I think you came out above where you started. You were a success. The failure was with the creepy dishonest business men (who will never really appreciate art any way).

First, note that I am French, and forgive my foreign english ! I read your article about Miyazaki's last movie with a great interest. I happened to see the first international projection of that movie in Paris on December, 22. Among with 500 french fans, we had the chance of seing the movie AND asking a few question to Mr Miyazaki himself, who was present (!) We saw the movie in Japanese version, with subtitles in French. At this present moment, a lot of discussions are running about that movie on french anime forums, and I would'nt say I have all the keys for fully understand the movie. Indeed, you article taught me very interesting details about 'kamikakushi' and traditional Japon. But I must say my surprise, reading that you missed something. It is not such a surprise, as you had quite a lot of informations before seing the movie, in order to make yourself an opinion 'a priori'. Maybe you are right, maybe the movie doesn't say what Miyazaki explained he wanted to tell. But maybe Miyazaki's words were not appropriate to translate what he wanted to do with this movie. You see, the more I investigate Miyazaki's movies, the more I feel that movies, and especially animation, cannot just be reduced in a few sentences, even if the sentences are from the movie-maker himself. Don't forget that Japan is the country of Zen, and Zen teaching is supposed to be beyond words. (I know that Miyazaki is not Zen, but Shintoist, but I think it is a part of his culture). I mean that Miyazaki explained his intentions, and intentions are not promises of commercial contracts. Have you ever read Miyazaki's intentions about Mononoke Hime ? It is obvious that the movie doesn't exactly fit the intention... In 'Sen to Chihiro', he said us (I was here) that if he had put all that he had planned in the movie, it would have been a 3 hours movie ! So he had to make choices and to build a story without developping all his ideas. About Chihiro... I don't think that Chihiro is the typical Miyazaki heroine. She is polite, and courageous enough to fight, but that's all. Of course, she changes during the story, but not enough to be as a strong character as Nausicaä ou Kiki. You point that some characters were not more than goblins like Hampty Dampty' to you. I am quite sure you could make the effort for understanding the symbols behind those mysterious creatures (excuse me, I am provocating you). You also point the lack of relationship between Chihiro and her parents. I think such relationship is quite representative of what famillies are in our modern countries. The conclusion... well, i feel Miyazaki has not a high idea of adults' capacity to change and evolve. I agree it is frustrating to see a new Chihiro coming back in the real world, with parents not even aware of what happened to them. The conclusion you were awaiting is cleary not the conclusion Miyazaki wanted to do. It is NOT a happy end, as Chihiro just understood that she have to struggle to get and to keep happiness in the real world. For her parents, happiness is just a matter of cunsumption. They got their human bodies back, but in their minds, they are still pigs. They are on a dead path, unable to change. Chihiro learnt that joy and happiness is not a matter of power or money, but of work, heart-opening and outside relationship. remember the knot in her hair, and what Yubaba's sister said about it... I intend to write much more about this movie, but forgive me, I feel better in my native language ! And thanks again for your article. Even if I do not agree with you, It is good to read articles about Miyazaki written by people that realy know his work.

I experimented with a black and white sequence in my Flash movie "Special Effects" http://mcusiman.tripod.com/animate.html With the ease of using bright colors available in Flash I don't see that many animators will use B&W except for an occasional effect. Economically there is no difference as their is in film. Mick Cusimano

B&W cartoons are not completely dead, even in the CG world. You might take a look at two award-winning shorts, Raf Anzovin's "Java Noir" at www.hypnotic.com or Mitch Butler's "The Smell of Horror" at www.mitchbutler.com. In both cases, B&W is employed as a parodic element, because the original genres--40s noir and early-60s psychokiller flicks--were usually filmed in B&W stock. "Java Noir" is actually about a colorless subject--black coffee.

I came to this page, because I was trying to find Childrens Circle; I was trying to find a place to order CC/WW videotapes for home use. Those used to be available (then, for $20), and are absolutely wonderful. Now I fear only the school and library editions are available. Monday (12/24), or at some business day in the near future, I will dial 800-KIDS VID, and find out the truth. It is wonderful to find out more about how the films were made. I knew I loved the makers; loving the films as I do, how could I not? And the films make the books all the more accessible. The teach one to read . . . .

I only have one question for Jerry Beck... are you still producing animation? Because if you are you shouldn't be reviewing animated series. I have also heard that you take a consultancy fee from Disney. If this is true, please either confirm or deny it. I find the idea of anyone working in animation publishing criticism on other animator's work to be highly suspicious. If, in fact, you no longer are producing a project for MTV and no longer take money from Disney then I apologize for suspecting you. However, if you are working in animation you should alert your readers of that fact so they can take your reviews in context... that of someone who may be biased against shows that could compete with your own product.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST opened my mind to the world of film. Unfortunately,I did not see it in a theatre and hopefully I'll be able to find an IMAX theatre showing it. I don't think there are any where I live,though. I'm also worried about something: I'm worried that they might have tried to sneak Fife or Forte or any of the other characters from the blasphemy that was BEAUTY AND THE BEAST: THE ENCHANTED CHRISTMAS and I need to know that they are nowhere to be found.

Does anyone know what the recent ratings have been?

"for this reason alone The Iron Giant would have been one of the most unique animated films ever produced by an American studio. But after sixty-odd years of color features, no one -- even a talent such as Brad Bird --thinks that way anymore." "Iron Giant" IS one of the most "unique animated films" ever produced by an American studio. It's in color, because the idea to make it in Black and White wasn't NECESSARY. To say Brad Bird (the "talent") doesn't "think" that way anymore is hogwash (not to mention ignorant). Anyone who can make a film as entertaining and moving as "Iron Giant" SURELY could have made it in "black and white" should he have chosen--or should I say "if the film had called for it." But then again, maybe Anderson, Indiana has yet to get "color" projectors.... Carter Cooke Animation Historian

I have been into JtHM and Squee,and everything Jhonen for about 2 years now, and i thought THAT was funny...the first episode i ever saw of ZIM, i laughed my ass off...i love Jhonen's dark humor...it amuses me very much...he is such an intelligent man, i wish i could meet him someday.....ANYWAY! back to my point... i think Jhonen is the most creative writer on this filthy planet, and i hope he never loses his talents...The show is excellent, and pumped with extra funness, ok then...im a thinkin im done now...if you think im a loser, leave me alone, if i sound interesting to you, email me, cuz i need some other people to talk to about Jhonen...my email is: die_dustbuggies_die@hotmail.com, and my AIM name is NverSoLost...so please, talk to my face (yes, right to my face) ok then, bye bye now...i dont think i want to go yet....i watnt to stay! I WANT TO STAY!!

Jhonen Vasquez is a brilliant man, lol. I have read each JTHM comic book 100+ times. I can not get enough of it, my only problem is that I never got to see what happened with Devi and Nny, I did want them to get together in the end but there was no more comics. :( *checo*

There are actually a few animated b&w films. One which I especially like is "A Noite" by Regina Pessoa. I'm not too sure because I only saw it once, but isn't "Father & Daughter" also b&w? anyway, I can see where you're getting at. I personally prefer b&w photography, and marvel at old "Twilight Zone" episodes, but I'm not quite sure how audiences would handle it. probably that's why only independent (or semi-independent) directors have tried it recently.

I saw this film at the London Film Festival. Not being aware it was animation before going in, let alone what it was about, I was completely stunned by the visual style and story/concept. After 10 minutes I was worried if I would get nauseaus sitting through for 90 mins or so, but the graphics changed frequently enough to overcome this. I also wondered if I could cope with the variation of style during that time. It really goes to show that the medium is so symbiotic to the content. If this had been shown live action the story would have fallen flat. Likewise if the story was anything but an exploration of every meta-physical conversation and debate we had in college then the visuals would have left people lost and confused. This film was an excellent achievement of both and as to the debate to whether it qualifies as animation? It only goes to support my view that now we are entering an era of digital animation as well as drawn, we need to understand that the term 'Animation' is too limited. 3D Motion-Capture animation is as valid as 2D Drawn Classical Animation, they're just different. "The act, process, or result of imparting life, interest, spirit, motion, or activity." is a great explanation of the word 'Animation', it's not exclusive to one method or another. As we see this industry expand, we'll all have to think a little more about what we call the visual style of animation. Game Animation, Feature Animation & Televisual Animation are just 3 types that refer to the medium and represent fundamentally different styles. I am sure this debate will rage and I'd like to hear anyone's opinion ... ;-) Whatever you think though, go and see this film Ben Lock Head of Digital Production

Go forth, and partake of a hot dog on a friday--but not the bun...never the bun! The raisins watch me. xoxoxo jenny gutter

Jhonen rocks! invader zim is my fav show of all time, there's not ONE character that i dislike it it, they're all hillarious to me. When i watch zim i often burst out laughing, which is surprising since i usually never laugh at stuff on cartoons or shows or whatever. Which shows just how good invader zim is!! INFLATEABLE GUM WRAPPERS!!!

Pimp, your articles are growing slowly more coherent. I still don't get the character you're portraying; it's as unauthentic as "Moriarty" or "Hercules the Strong" over at that famous movie review site. But your take on Christmas is coherent, it's heartfelt, even if I don't fully buy your philosophy. However, you're sounding like you're making fun of Christmas depression. Guess what? It's real. People die of alcoholism and drugs around the holidays, because they miss love and affection or don't think they're worthy of it. Especially this year, when people are being fired en masse (especially in animation), we're at war and fearful, and we feel helpless in the face of foreign and American evil. The great Christmas story, which has never successfully been animated, was "It's a Wonderful Life." (Yeah, "It's a Wonderful Tiny Toons Christmas" parodied it. Who did it straight?) It includes attempted suicide, great evil which is never punished (Mr. Potter's still around at story's end, right?) and a man who sees his life as pointless. But, with no mention of Christ or religion or much of anything, George Bailey overcomes. Maybe somebody reading this might make a try at it. Failing that, in animated form, "Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol" comes close. The redemption comes outside the actual story. It's the redemption of the cartoon character Mister Magoo, who was always a pompous and arrogant middle-class jerk. In this show, playing Scrooge, he shows sorrow, regret and understanding. It was also the redemption of Jim Backus - the second-best performance of his life (next to his dad in "Rebel Without a Cause").

Really, it was a very interesting read. I am greatful to have such a wealth of knowlege to draw from. Re: the show itself.... we'll, it's terrible. It's fodder for the masses. I've never seen such terrible animation and production values... BUT... Kids love it. THAT's what counts. Animators (including myself) are snobs. We can't help it... Good article, terrible show, and congralations for getting it done on budget and on time! (serisouly, congrats :) We need to see more on telly (admittedly better than this, but we need more, like you say, successful productions).