The death of 2D animation
What was the last two dimensional animated film that you saw? Hopefully you managed to catch Howl's Moving Castle in a cinema last year, or Spirited Away the year before that (both of which were directed by Japanese lord of animation Miyazaki).
But what of American animation? What was the last Animated film that came out of the US? Titan A.E.? Spirit? Both films that are now going on 10 years old. And are there even any in the pipeline? Not that I know of. In fact, if it wasn't for the insistence of Pixar's John Lasseter, Disney would have closed down it's 2D studios by now.
So why is this? Why have we lost an art form that was so instrumental in the golden age of cinema, that brought us so many classic characters, and stylistic conventions that are so recognisable that they are parodied in even live action films (Who Framed Roger Rabbit, The Mask etc.).
It is all for a very simple reason; animated two dimensional films are simply not commercially viable anymore. Or at least, that is how the major studios see it.
They simply cannot see past the medium and see the film underneath. All they can see is films like The Incredibles and Finding Nemo pulling in huge numbers and films like Pocahontas 2 and The Emperor's New Groove sinking like lead balloons. Never mind the fact that the first two are compelling stories with lovable characters, and the second two are just shitty. All the big-wigs see is 2D vs. 3D.
I find it incredibly depressing that the Hollywood studios are willing to throw out 70+ years of movie history, and cut an entire art form from their portfolios only to replace it with the flash-in-the-pan that is CG movies.
Thank God the Japanese haven't gone insane and are continuing down the path of righteousness. Hopefully over the next few years, they will continue to demonstrate to the Hollywood studios that 2D movies ARE viable and we'll see them bounce back. I certainly hope they will.
But what of American animation? What was the last Animated film that came out of the US? Titan A.E.? Spirit? Both films that are now going on 10 years old. And are there even any in the pipeline? Not that I know of. In fact, if it wasn't for the insistence of Pixar's John Lasseter, Disney would have closed down it's 2D studios by now.
So why is this? Why have we lost an art form that was so instrumental in the golden age of cinema, that brought us so many classic characters, and stylistic conventions that are so recognisable that they are parodied in even live action films (Who Framed Roger Rabbit, The Mask etc.).
It is all for a very simple reason; animated two dimensional films are simply not commercially viable anymore. Or at least, that is how the major studios see it.
They simply cannot see past the medium and see the film underneath. All they can see is films like The Incredibles and Finding Nemo pulling in huge numbers and films like Pocahontas 2 and The Emperor's New Groove sinking like lead balloons. Never mind the fact that the first two are compelling stories with lovable characters, and the second two are just shitty. All the big-wigs see is 2D vs. 3D.
I find it incredibly depressing that the Hollywood studios are willing to throw out 70+ years of movie history, and cut an entire art form from their portfolios only to replace it with the flash-in-the-pan that is CG movies.
Thank God the Japanese haven't gone insane and are continuing down the path of righteousness. Hopefully over the next few years, they will continue to demonstrate to the Hollywood studios that 2D movies ARE viable and we'll see them bounce back. I certainly hope they will.
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