Classic Animation

[kostgard]

2D animation has a warmth to it that computer animation simply cannot recreate, no matter how remarkable it becomes. Sort of like how music is so crisp and amazingly clear on a CD, yet an LP brings something out that a digital recording can't quite duplicate. Mostly because it is the imperfections, and the newer technology is designed to avoid those flaws.

But they both have their merits. I'd hate to see 2D die all together, so I hope that there are enough people out there to keep it alive.

My main problem with movies like Shrek is that they are just disposable pop culture that seem like their shelf life won't be that long. I figure that if you're going to take the time to animate the movie, you should at least make the story timeless. I think of The Incredibles - computer animation, came out about the same time as one of the Shrek movies (I can't remember which one) and while The Incredibles are about superheroes and deal with technology and the modern world in general, I feel like the storytelling is far more timeless than the storytelling in Shrek, which basically has a classic, fairytale-setting.

[SluttyMary]

I'm surprised Sleeping Beauty is so popular. I don't think the princess have much personality to her. I love Cinderella but her look is also not one of my favorites, though, as she is also kind of bland to me. I like the look of Belle in Beauty and The Beast, Snow white and Jasmin from Alladin the most. Ariel from The Little Mermaid is cute too. I'm like a little kid everytime I go to Disneyland.

[dandesun]

Sleeping Beauty has a lot going for it. Aurora may not be the most dynamic personality ever but the other characters help round the whole thing out. Prince Philip was the first Disney Prince to have a personality of his own, which was a good thing. Flora, Fauna and Merriweather had their constant bickering going on. And Maleficent was definitely the most awesome villain.

Then you had the animation. The backgrounds for Sleeping Beauty are just amazing. The simplicity of the design of the characters offset the sheer amount of detail in the backgrounds.

The latter year Disney princesses were altered to have more personality to shift with the times and it certainly paid off.

Lassiter as head of animation brings a lot of hope with it because he understands the integral part just the way Walt did. It's all about the story. I never thought I'd want to see a movie about animated cars... particularly racecars... but guess what? The story made it work.

I also agree with the concept that the celebrity voices took over more than the story itself. I think that started because of Robby Benson's turn as Beast. No one could believe that was him. It really shocked people to find out that the Beast's gruff voice was done by former teen sweetheart Robby Benson. And Robin Williams' turn as Genie really polished it all off. The thing is that Benson's voicework was perfect for Beast just as Williams was perfect for Genie. But when it became too much about 'and THIS celebrity will be in THIS role...' it rather lost its appeal.

[thecupcakekid]

Aladdin and the Aristocats were my all time favorites growing up. I can still watch those movies over and over. I really hate the computer animation, it can be done really well, like the Beauty and the Beast ball scene but overall I don't care for it .

[Deleted]

Fantasia and The Little Mermaid were the very first movies I ever saw in the theater, I still vividly remember walking out of The Little Mermaid with my mom when I was all of 7 years old and just thinking, "Wow!" The Disney movies of the 90s were all huge events for me from The Little Mermaid right up through The Hunchback of Notre Dame. I think that's when the love died for me, what with Demi Moore and Kevin Klein being so hyped up. it was much better when they used people who just had great voices.

[mrpancake]

Yeah, for me Sleeping Beauty isn't really about the story, so much. Aurora and Philip don't even talk at all the second half of the movie, but I think that adds an interesting element to it. But for me, it's really about the music and the artwork. Oh, and Maleficent. What a badass she is. By far the best. I love Disney Villians. Although it's hard to say who's the worst. Maleficent sought death for not being invited to a party, but Cruella deVille skins innocent puppies! Madame Mim from the Sword in the Stone was a fun character, though.

[susyhomewrecker]

mrpancake said:

Yeah, for me Sleeping Beauty isn't really about the story, so much. Aurora and Philip don't even talk at all the second half of the movie, but I think that adds an interesting element to it. But for me, it's really about the music and the artwork. Oh, and Maleficent. What a badass she is. By far the best. I love Disney Villians. Although it's hard to say who's the worst. Maleficent sought death for not being invited to a party, but Cruella deVille skins innocent puppies! Madame Mim from the Sword in the Stone was a fun character, though.

I'm taking a class on witches this quarter, and I'm not exactly sure why we're talking about Disney movies like Cinderella or Aladdin that don't have witches, but it's been a fun couple of lectures. Anyway, the professor asked us to write a short paper (so she knows who came to class that day) about which Disney movie was our favorite and why, and I put down Sleeping Beauty because Maleficent could turn into a dragon, and when I was a little kid, I thought she was so badass. I also love the scene where the fairies make Briar Rose the cake and dress. I'm so disappointed they don't have the walk-through of Sleeping Beauty's castle at Disneyland anymore, that was always my favorite thing to do when I was little.

I looove the villains. Maleficent is clearly the best, but I really like Gaston from Beauty and the Beast, too. He's such a douchey guy, and the song he sings about himself used to crack me up. Still does, actually, now that I think about it. "Every last inch of me's covered in HAIR!"

[viridian]

susyhomewrecker said:

I looove the villains. Maleficent is clearly the best, but I really like Gaston from Beauty and the Beast, too. He's such a douchey guy, and the song he sings about himself used to crack me up. Still does, actually, now that I think about it. "Every last inch of me's covered in HAIR!"

Even funnier is the way he winks, right before ripping open his shirt. Teehee [/12 year-old].

The Secret of NIMH was the first non-Disney animated movie I loved. The Great Owl gave me the willies, much more so than any Disney villian. They made him genuinely sinister looking, and you could never be quite sure whether he was on the cusp of helping or eating Mrs. Brisby.

[jynni]

viridian said:

The Secret of NIMH was the first non-Disney animated movie I loved. The Great Owl gave me the willies, much more so than any Disney villian. They made him genuinely sinister looking, and you could never be quite sure whether he was on the cusp of helping or eating Mrs. Brisby.

The Secret of NIMH scared the living crap out of me as a kid. I was in tears begging to have it turned off. I remember when it was on at recess (we couldn't go out cause it was raining) they had to put me outside in the hallway with a book as I was too scared to watch it.

A few years back I got curious as to why it had scared me so much. I found a copy of the DVD at Blockbuster for like $5 so I bought it and must say that that dang trip to the owl was probably what did it. Well, that and the trip into the rats lair. Creepy!

I personally think the best Disney villain is Cruella DeVille - I mean no one can top the crazy there. She wanted to make a coat out of puppies!!! I mean Malificent was badass and all but Cruella was batshit insane.

[susyhomewrecker]

viridian said:

susyhomewrecker said:

I looove the villains. Maleficent is clearly the best, but I really like Gaston from Beauty and the Beast, too. He's such a douchey guy, and the song he sings about himself used to crack me up. Still does, actually, now that I think about it. "Every last inch of me's covered in HAIR!"

Even funnier is the way he winks, right before ripping open his shirt. Teehee [/12 year-old].

The Secret of NIMH was the first non-Disney animated movie I loved. The Great Owl gave me the willies, much more so than any Disney villian. They made him genuinely sinister looking, and you could never be quite sure whether he was on the cusp of helping or eating Mrs. Brisby.

I liked that movie too, even though it creeped me out with the rats in the cages. My favorite non-Disney movie was "An American Tail" with the Russian mice. (Ha.) I absolutely HATED "All Dogs Go to Heaven." Talk about traumatic! I think my parents took me thinking "oh, how nice, all dogs go to heaven!" without realizing that the dogs had to DIE first.