Some thoughts on animation

I've been doing this animation thing for a few years now. Along with my experience in video and editing, I've kind of had a broader experience than most people who have only done animation. Keep in mind that I'm not insulting my fellow peers when I write this, but that I'm just giving my opinion on the industry.

Actually, I want to start by saying The Thief and the Cobbler inspired me to write this entry. The sad story behind its production, and how the AMAZING characters and story got ruined to make it more "appealing" to audiences.

WHAT IS APPEALING THESE DAYS?

Apparently Ben 10. Now, while these shows are super marketable, they are popular for a reason. Not because the animation (in Ben 10) is great, or because some famous actor plays his voice, but because kids like the idea of it. they like the fact that this kid transforms into cool looking aliens. It's the story behind it. Now, I'm not into the series (I'm kind of passed the 30-minute toy commercial phase of my life), but it's been around for 5+ years for a reason. It's got a good story that drags kids into it.

Ben 10 could have been the most beautifully animated cartoon on Earth though, but if it were just about a kid who had funny adventures at school, it might not have been popular.

I think a lot of animators today miss the point. We DO create a work of art. However, we are not the stars of this show. We aid the writers. A cartoon is only as good as its writing, and the THIEF AND THE COBBLER PROVES THIS. When it was changed to a worthless shadow of its former self in the 90's, it still LOOKED nice. But the story was stupid. It changed its lovable silent, but strongly characterized cast, with loud mouthed narrations and dull songs to try to "appeal" to an audience they didn't understand.

I see a lot of animators acting like they are hot stuff. Yeah, we're pretty cool, but face it. We'll never get the credit we deserve. We have a great gift, and it's tough work, but in the end, you need to be humble and remember that we are the worker bees to the writers and directors. Story is most important. Not how pretty or technical or nice your cartoon looks.

Because if you have a great animation about a Cobbler but it doesn't make sense, then nobody is going to care about it AT ALL.



I will say though, for those of us who can appreciate the art of animation, great work makes us very happy inside.