Originally Posted By mawnck <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://variety.com/2013/digital/news/will-streaming-save-animations-soul-1200566445/">http://variety.com/2013/digita...0566445/</a> >>“It’s too homogenous. It’s way too much the same,” said Henry Selick, who directed stop-motion pics “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and “Coraline.” “The films aren’t really that different one from the other. ‘Despicable Me’ could have been made by Pixar, by DreamWorks. It’s not a great time for feature animation if you want to do something even moderately outside the formula.”<< He does have a new (non-theatrical) project to promote, so he's not exactly an unbiased observer, but Kirk Wise, Chris Sanders and Pete Docter are all there to back him up. >>Kirk Wise, best known for directing (with Gary Trousdale) “Beauty and the Beast,” also lamented lack of individuality in today’s toons. “I would love to see something come along that was just a little quirky, a little more special, that didn’t feel like the same movie that was released three weeks ago.” And Chris Sanders, helmer of DreamWorks Animation’s “The Croods,” said while big grosses for animation are great news, he’s worried that today’s animated studio fare is “monumental.” “That’s one of the things that’s very much on my mind,” he said, “I think we need to create a variety of types of animated films, some that are not going to cost as much as others. Not every story is giant.”<< And their whine is the same as mine. All the major releases this year ... every single one of them ... have been "product". Risk-free formula flicks. Safe, slick, and focus-grouped into submission. Cheesecake Factory instead of Spago. Katy Perry instead of Imagine Dragons. Obviously some are much better than others (MU > Epic), but none are particularly interesting, at least to me. And the rest of this year isn't looking any better. Spoiler: The Mawnckscars are going to be even grouchier than usual this year unless a miracle occurs. I'm thinking this may be the last year. I do the Mawnckscar thing to discover cool new movies, and the ratio of cool-new to same-old-same-old is finally becoming untenable. Not to mention expensive. "Rio 2". Yuck.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 I totally concur with this. Even the animated films I've seen lately that I enjoyed, for instance MU, have lacked a certain something. Originality, juice, an individual as opposed to a committee sensibility – whatever you want to call it. Don't stop doing the Mawncksters though! Every year so far you've turned me on to something that I wouldn't have known about, but seeked out and really enjoyed.
Originally Posted By mawnck >>Every year so far you've turned me on to something that I wouldn't have known about, but seeked out and really enjoyed.<< Here you go! <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.silvercirclemovie.com">http://www.silvercirclemovie.com</a> (Actual theatrical feature, ran in April in at the Laemmle NoHo 7, Oscar-eligible.)
Originally Posted By Tikiduck I loved Coraline. I totally agree about the cookie cutter mentality. I am very hesitant about what I watch anymore.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA Kar2oonMan and I have been railing on this very subject for years. As far back as 2006, when I wrote a review about 'Over the Hedge' I was talking about the sameness of the character design and their eyes. (thanks to Kar2oonMan for the caricatures of me with the various styles of eyes -- LOL!) <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.2adults1child.com/what_we_think/Summer_Movies_2006/Hedge_1.htm">http://www.2adults1child.com/w...ge_1.htm</a>
Originally Posted By u k fan Wreck-it Ralph is the only new animated movie I've seen this year as nothing else has looked that interesting so far. I may see MU as I really like Monster Inc. I'm a few movies away from finishing my Ghibli season and then I'll be all up to date except anything post the Yamadas. I'm so glad I've done this instead. Some of those movies will stay with me forever. I watched Whisper of The Heart at the weekend and I loved it. I'll be surprised if I can say the same about DM2!!!
Originally Posted By mawnck >>I watched Whisper of The Heart at the weekend and I loved it. I'll be surprised if I can say the same about DM2!!!<< I wouldn't try viewing those two in close proximity. That's like going from Filet Mignon to McNuggets.
Originally Posted By skinnerbox <<And their whine is the same as mine. All the major releases this year ... every single one of them ... have been "product". Risk-free formula flicks. Safe, slick, and focus-grouped into submission. Cheesecake Factory instead of Spago. Katy Perry instead of Imagine Dragons.>> +1 And they're saving the worst for last. 'Planes' is about as risk-free as it gets. 'Cars' in the clouds. Maybe they should sell logo airsick bags in the theater lobby.
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance I think Planes is a huge risk, I can't imagine it doing anything but bombing horribly. Why would they think it'll do anything but bomb?
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>Why would they think it'll do anything but bomb?<< Because executives.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA <Have you guys not gone out and done something since 2006?> We have. Just not on the web. :/
Originally Posted By mawnck >>I think Planes is a huge risk, I can't imagine it doing anything but bombing horribly. Why would they think it'll do anything but bomb?<< Because it was probably animated in Jamaica for $35,000. (See also: Hoodwinked.) Heck, it might be their most profitable movie of the year.
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance If it can be made for that much, then they really have no excuse for the amount of money each Pixar movie costs to make.
Originally Posted By mawnck >>If it can be made for that much, then they really have no excuse for the amount of money each Pixar movie costs to make.<< I take it you're too young to remember the Eisner cheapquels. Cinderella 6 and such. Animated overseas on a shoestring budget. They SUCKED, and did horrible damage to the brand. Pixar is spending too much money, if the reports are to be believed. But there's such a thing as too little money as well. (See also: Hoodwinked, Hoodwinked Too.) And while there is money to be made from cheapquels, it isn't a LOT of money. Planes is not likely to get an adult audience, or be remembered five years from now. (See also: Valiant, The Wild.) By the way, I'm sure Planes cost considerably more than $35,000. That was an attempt at humor on my part. Seems like I'd know better by now.
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance Well, I wasn't suggesting they outsource Pixar movies overseas, but if you look at Planes and Cars side by side (not taking story into account) they look very similiar. So other than hiring better story writers, what the heck does Pixar spend all of their money on? I'm not too young to remember the cheap sequels, heck they still re-release them out of the "vault" occasionally and advertise them.
Originally Posted By skinnerbox <<So other than hiring better story writers, what the heck does Pixar spend all of their money on?>> Executive compensation. Just like the rest of Corporate America.
