Brandon Hill

Period 3
CP English 12

ESSAY
After Pixar released the first feature length computer animated film, Toy Story,
technology and art finally came together to create the vast world of 3D animation that
we know today. Starting with basic puppetry skills applied to its design, 3D animation
soon evolved with advances in technology into capturing motion, and facial expressions,
of real human movements, inspiring multitudes of eager artists to join in the advancing
world of the future. However, in doing so, the vast history of animation soon became
overlooked with the awe-inspiring realism this new technology could capture, and the
old, traditional styles of animation, in the eyes of movie studios, became viewed as
obsolete and undesired by the general public. But the idea that these unconventional
methods are in some way lesser, in any way, than CG is simply untrue. In truth these
other styles of animation are actually the framework for emerging creative ideas and
potentially the future of what the world of animation is to become.
Since the creation of the film industry and commercial movies, animation has
captured the minds of its audience with its creative worlds so similar to our own and yet
so distinct that sheer wonder takes over, fascinating, tantalizing the mind, and slowly
the forefront of imaginative and creative thinking has shifted over to the traditional
animative craft. In an interview with Pixar chief creative officer, John Lasseter, 2D
animation is described as the scapegoat for bad storytelling, (DisneyPixar, 2009) as a
reference to a widely used quote of Andrew Stanton, writer and director of such movies
as Wall-E, A Bugs Life, and Finding Nemo. Lasseter then reveals his own confusion
with regards to the fantastic (DisneyPixar, 2009) medium of traditional animation,
vocalizing that he cannot understand (DisneyPixar, 2009) why movie studios stopped
producing in 2D. The maker of todays modern animation medium is telling us that
traditional styles are not only able to compete with modern CGI, but there is something
about those styles that modern animation could never capture, something entirely
unique and all-too-often overlooked by movie studios today. While producing in 3D is
cheaper than the massive undertakings of traditional animation, charm, regarding style
and history, give traditional animation its own unique feel, like an entirely different art
form, and this timelessness and longevity is exactly what makes 2D animation such a
viable medium. Traditional outlets are not lesser than the often overused medium of
modern animation, they are simply different styles.
Animations future has many possibilities, but creativity flourishes when it is
pushed to the brink, and because of the recent struggles over the years, traditional
animations have proven to be full of creative spirit. A common trend for most animators
is to travel down the road of stop-motion animation, specifically in the realm of pixilation,
 Brandon Hill
Period 3
CP English 12

where people and their objects become animated into stop-motion. Angela Kohler and
Ithyle Griffiths music video for Lost Things follows this common trend with a unique
twist. Putting their skills to work in the film, the animation team used multiple different
types of stop-motion animation to tell the story effectively through their visuals. Paper
cut-outs, pixilation, and many other traditional styles of stop-motion were implemented
in this fantastical story of escape. In an interview with Adobo Magazine, Ithyle Griffiths
describes the tactile (Adobo, 2017) elements of their creative process to be
indescribably important (Adobo, 2017) to their success, and in an interview by Source
Creative, Angela Kohler mentions their tactile elements are meant to evoke the most
enchanting parts (Brown, 2010) of peoples lives. Stop-motion has always been known
as an symbolic style of animation because of the slight movements throughout the
frames and the often obscure objects used to portray equally obscure subjects
throughout the medium's history. Using this form of animation, the bizarre theme of
escaping reality by jumping into wonderland is brought to life in award-winning fashion.
While 3D animation may be the most prevalent animation style out in the market today,
the existence of traditional styles of animation serves as the inspiration behind all 3D
animations modern advances.
Animations are amazing, in every single one of their forms. All animations tell a
story, not just in the plot, but also in the creators personality reflected through their
style. In all styles of animation this can be seen, it does not make CG unique in its
ability to allow animators to act as well as create their scenes. 3D animation is not
superior to traditional styles of animation, nor is it inferior in any way; CGI is awesome
just like animations other forms. All styles have positives and negatives, but the
creative element resides in which one you choose and how it affects your story. If
animation had a lesson to the world, it would be this, your story is yours to animate.
 Brandon Hill
Period 3
CP English 12

Transcript:
(Please note that no email got back to me, so this is taken from an online
interview with John Lasseter, CCO of Disney-Pixar.
You know, one of the exciting things about the merger between Disney and Pixar, and
Bob Iger making me the Chief Creative Officer, and Catmull president of, you know,
Disney animation studio, ummm, was it when the first thing we wanted to do when we
came into the studio is we wanted to start production on hand drawn animated film. I
love the medium of hand drawn animation, I love it, I think its fantastic. And I never
quite understood why animation studios, like all around, especially in Hollywood, but all
around the world decided that audiences werent interested in watching hand-drawn
animation anymore. The way I look at it is like you think of two movie studios that are
making live-action films. One makes really popular films, and the other just so-so films.
The so-so film studio would kind of look over and go, Oh, I get it! I know why your films
arent doing well at the box office, were using the wrong camera! Were gonna use that
camera where uh, that that that company, thats film studio thats doing amazing work!
You know? And now are movies are gonna be liked by audiences. Now, of course,
thats ridiculous, but thats the way we feel about hand-drawn animation versus
computer animation. Never in the history of cinema has a movie been entertaining to an
audience because of the technology. Its what you do with the technology, what you do
with the medium, thats so special. Umm, Andrew Stanton, you know, said this, and I
think its a perfect sentiment, is it 2D animation became the scapegoat for bad
storytelling. When people What the audiences dont want to watch is bad movies.
Right? They like watching good movies.
 Brandon Hill
Period 3
CP English 12

Bibliography:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaqmn55w4IA
Engadget. "Zootopia's Fur Technology." YouTube. YouTube, 04 Mar. 2016. Web. 05 May
2017.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PA0doO0vG-Q
Jsmsws. "THE SAND CASTLE." YouTube. YouTube, 20 July 2014. Web. 05 May 2017.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZbrdCAsYqU
Bloopanimation. "The 5 Types of Animation." YouTube. YouTube, 14 Sept. 2015. Web. 05
May 2017.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyUdVpn59k0
Monoclemagazine. "New-generation Animators." YouTube. YouTube, 11 Jan. 2016. Web. 05
May 2017.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwX7uEiEWx4
Gallantandkeen. "Lost Things." YouTube. YouTube, 26 Feb. 2010. Web. 05 May 2017.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=518XP8prwZo
Iamlikeasea. "Kseniya Simonova - Sand Animation ( / Ukraine's Got
Talent)." YouTube. YouTube, 07 June 2009. Web. 05 May 2017.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwJqpwWUZt0
Yuanyuan521. "The Umbrella- A Short Animation Made with Oil Paints." YouTube. YouTube,
18 Apr. 2012. Web. 05 May 2017.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qc4jhxAmGng
Variety. "'Zootopia' Character Animation - Animation Supervisor Kira Lehtomaki - Variety
Artisans." YouTube. YouTube, 06 Sept. 2016. Web. 05 May 2017.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOFeSM1E2F0
"The Gift." YouTube. YouTube, 22 Dec. 2014. Web. 05 May 2017.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_kanK3v5Qs
"[Making of Zootopia] Zoology: The Roundtables - Animation." YouTube. YouTube, 21 May
2016. Web. 05 May 2017.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gglKObDCE_o
"[Making of Zootopia] Research: A True Life Adventure." YouTube. YouTube, 21 May 2016.
Web. 05 May 2017.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVnjOqL6n0U
DisneyPixar. "John Lasseter on Hand-Drawn Animation." YouTube. YouTube, 13 Nov. 2009.
Web. 05 May 2017.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nrQrfIEbIo
DisneyPixar. "John Lasseter on 'The Princess and the Frog'." YouTube. YouTube, 08 Dec.
2009. Web. 05 May 2017.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0Vvl_ByCXM
EverySteveJobsVideo. "Steve Jobs and John Lasseter Interviewed by Charlie Rose
(1996)."YouTube. YouTube, 21 Dec. 2012. Web. 05 May 2017.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJr-vaw8JTg
 Brandon Hill
Period 3
CP English 12

"Charlie, Goldfish (Karlk, Zlat Rybka) - Czech Republic Animation." YouTube. YouTube, 17
Dec. 2016. Web. 05 May 2017.
http://www.pop-cultured.net/3d-vs-2d-animation-nostalgia-aesthetics/
"3D vs. 2D Animation: Nostalgia or Aesthetics?" Pop Cultured. N.p., 28 Apr. 2015. Web. 05
May 2017.
http://www.mike-efford-motion-design.com/7ReasonsWhy1.htm
7 Reasons Why Your Company Should Use Computer Animation. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 May
2017.
https://www.spielcreative.com/blog/why-are-3d-animations-so-popular/
"Spiel,." Spiel. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 May 2017.
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/06/16/1087244972042.html?oneclick=true
"Why 3-D Animation Rules the Day." Why 3-D Animation Rules the Day - Film. N.p., n.d.
Web. 05 May 2017.
https://austinvisuals.com/7-exciting-uses-of-3d-animation-today/
Visuals, Austin. "3D Graphic Animations Studio , Prototype Animation, 3D Architecture
Modeling." Austin Visuals. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 May 2017.
http://www.medialab3dsolutions.com/insight/reports-and-resources/animation-ov
er-video
"Why 3D Animation Excels Over Video." Why 3D Animation Excels Over Video - MediaLab
3D Solutions. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 May 2017.
http://appzincgroup.com/blog/benefits-of-3d-animation-and-its-importance
"Benefits of 3D Animation and Its Importance." Appzinc Group. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 May 2017.
http://www.theartcareerproject.com/get-movin-with-a-career-in-3d-animation/215/
"3D Animation Careers | Salary | Information | Education." TheArtCareerProject.com. N.p.,
11 Apr. 2016. Web. 05 May 2017.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_0_OBy8LsY
"A Spirited Journey to Kyoto's Most Isolated Restaurant." YouTube. YouTube, 16 Nov. 2016.
Web. 05 May 2017.
http://www.cinemablend.com/new/There-Giant-Problem-Animation-Industry-Have
-Deal-With-68334.html
"There's A Giant Problem That The Animation Industry Will Have To Deal
With."CINEMABLEND. N.p., 20 Nov. 2014. Web. 05 May 2017.
http://www.the-numbers.com/box-office-records/worldwide/all-movies/cumulative/
"Worldwide Cumulative Box Office Records." The Numbers. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 May 2017.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_highest-grossing_anime_films
"List of Highest-grossing Anime Films." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 02 May 2017.
Web. 05 May 2017.
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/genres/chart/?view=main&sort=gross&order=DES
C&pagenum=1&id=animation.htm
"Animation." Box Office Mojo. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 May 2017.
http://www.the-numbers.com/market/production-method/Digital-Animation
 Brandon Hill
Period 3
CP English 12

"Box Office History for Digital Animation." The Numbers - Where Data and Movies Meet.
N.p., n.d. Web. 05 May 2017.
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?yr=2016
"2016 DOMESTIC GROSSES." Box Office Mojo. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 May 2017.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fR6IYY6kTFk
Adobomagazine2. "Ithyle Griffiths, Director, Angela and Ithyle." YouTube. YouTube, 22 Mar.
2017. Web. 08 May 2017.
https://sourcecreative.extremereach.com/cmspage/2112/article?ArticleId=cac836
cb-de1b-48cf-89fb-4d275bc19a70
Brown, Pola. "Workhorse Media Signs Directing Team Angela + Ithyle." Source Creative.
Extremereach.com, 23 Apr. 2010. Web. 8 May 2017.