Films like Pixar's recent "Inside Out" explore mature themes about depression, emotional complexity, and the importance of negative experiences. "Frozen" explores female autonomy, an echo of the Disney Classic, "Mulan". "Big Hero 6" addresses loss. Many animated films produced by Pixar and Disney over the last few decades dig deep, bending the conventional and time-proven classic plots to have socially and developmentally positive impact on the minds of our youth.
This strategy is old news. Orally transmitted folk tales, including modernly referenced fairy tales, have historically utilized fanciful worlds, characters and adventures to convey a sense of morality a younger generation. The message is new: left-leaning, modern and relatable stories for 21st century children.
I think if you look at Studio Ghibli you'll find your answer. They've been tackling emotionally complex issues through animation for years, and they're not the only ones... It's just that Pixar is finally catching on. Compare Spirited Away to say Cinderella. In Spirited Away our character is a snotty, privileged little girl that faces a tough world that doesn't put up with it. In the end she doesn't come away with riches, just a richer perspective and humility. Disney Princess-cize that and the girl runs off with a perfect man, wealth, and cute talking animal friends. The converse for boys is that they come away a respected Hero with a beautiful woman. In Pixar/Disney films the fantasy is fed, in Ghibli, the fantasies are used to reflect something of the character. I think Pixar is getting there, but it's a complexity animation has dealt with for years. – A.E Hunt9 years ago
Ooooh! Miyazaki films are a whole different world - in a great way. Maybe this topic would be better as a comparison in the advancement of educational animation, between eastern and western culture? Aside from the occasional Ghibli release, I know very little about the history or oral culture of Japan.
– Derek Jackson9 years ago
I think an interesting way of looking at it, is that kids accept what they consume. Immediately, perhaps unquestionably. When I watched old Disney Cartoons as a kid for instance, I never knew which way I was being pulled or even that I was. It's simply accepted, and it stays there and becomes unconsciously normative. So I think what we allow children to consume is important... Whether it's family friendly ghibli, disney, Pixar, or even an orally passed story, the rules and ideals of those things just kind of embed themselves. I can't say I know very much about the history or oral culture of Japan either. I imagine it's quite different.
– A.E Hunt9 years ago
A good look at the evolution of Disney, especially since the "Renaissance" period it went through in the 90s. Could go broad with all sorts of modern animation, or focus on Disney, either way a great topic! – smartstooge9 years ago
I actually took a class last year specifically on the original fairy tales (Hans Christian Andersen, Grimms, Charles Perrault, etc). I have collections of the original fairy tales as well, and part of understanding the animated adaptations comes from comparing them to the original tales they're based on. I think it could be fascinating to really look at the details changed and how that changes the ultimate story. For example, in the original Little Mermaid (Andersen), mermaids don't have souls and the little mermaid's main goal is to earn a soul. One way she can do that, according to the not antagonistic sea witch, is to marry a man on land. When she saves the prince (yes, that happens), she has already made the decision to become human. She gives up her voice, gets legs which feel like knives stabbing into her with every step, and meets the prince. He treats her as a sort of pet, or lap dog, or something similar (she sleeps on a cushion outside of his room), and he ultimately marries some other princess (not the sea witch in disguise). Her sisters, learning her plight, all trade their long hair for a special knife from the witch. If the little mermaid kills the prince and his wife (oh, she joined them on the boat for the wedding, bizarrely) and lets their blood stain her feet, she will have a soul and be human. She considers this option but rejects it and jumps out of the boat. Rather than turn to sea foam as expected, though, she is chosen to be a spirit of the air, which travels the world doing good deeds to earn a soul. Not very much like Disney's version, is it? The things that are changed make a tremendous difference. Yes, Ariel likes humanity initially but her turning point isn't a soul - it's the prince. We see few negative side effects of her legs - she doesn't seem to have any pain - and she's treated fairly well by the prince. There's a happy ending in Disney, too, but not one as deep as Andersen's. Other stories - Cinderella, The Swan Princess, The Frog Prince, and others - all have major differences from their original stories. However, when one looks at these differences, they don't necessarily feel more modern or more relatable. They almost feel 'dumbed-down', and maybe that's to cater to a young audience, but those fairy tales catered to children, too. A long article or a series comparing some animated movies to their original stories would be an enlightening read for many animation fans (especially over at Disney). – KajsaRain9 years ago
After Disney's movie Frozen came out in 2013, it quickly became one of the highest grossing animated films Disney ever produced, achieving financial, critical and popular acclaim from fans worldwide. In fact, Disney even announced that there was going to be a "5-year Frozen plan" until the inevitable sequel arrives in 2018. (link) However, Frozen's fame might come at a price for Disney in the future. Despite Disney's later film Big Hero 6 (2014) also gaining the same sort of acclaim Frozen did (even the same Academy Award for Best Animated Film), in contrast, Big Hero 6 doesn't have anywhere near as much of the attention that Frozen currently gets from Disney (which ranges from cruises, theme-park attractions, as well as more advertisement in general). What could this all mean then for Disney's future animated projects? Will the emphasis on Frozen for the next five years become a detriment for Disney? Or should it not be viewed as potentially problematic at all?
This a very interesting question that deserves a lot of reflection, analysis but especially SOURCES. Numbers and links (like you've just shared) are essential here - how much has Disney gained from Frozen in terms of profit, and not only in terms of tickets and DVD sales but with all the derived merchandise as well and the theme parks? How much did the studio gain from Big Hero 6 (which might have gotten the same kind of acclaim yet has never done as well in the big public's eyes). It demands an aesthetical reflection as well, and you could compare both films. Is the story originally more appealing? Are the characters more sympathetic and well-constructed? Is it because it corresponds to the princess/romantic story model that we associate to Disney? Is the aesthetic more appealing? – Rachel Elfassy Bitoun9 years ago
The more skilled animation-related people in Artifice should give this topic a try. I think we really need a comparison of animation software article that elaborates things in-depth. Mostly the internet is full of vague statements and outdated facts. A modern compilation of data with a touch of artistic experience could make this one a popular article. It'll be good for rookies and experts alike, as well as casually curious people.
I agree. There is very little documentation and examples of technique specifically involving the Flash and Vector-based animation programs. Vector animation done in Flash or Toon-Boom is getting so good these days, and yet there are no explanations are to how the animation in "My Little Pony," "Wander Over Yonder," or the "Mickey Mouse" cartoons are created. It's quite frustrating. – Jonathan Leiter9 years ago
Movies aimed at younger audiences almost always get a bad reputation for being just for kids, but Pixar has proven that just because it is made for kids does not mean it has to be devoid of creativity or emotional depth, even if sometimes they can be more mature than they expected. For this list, I want to explore some of the most emotional, dark, touching, and mature moments that Pixar has presented in its 15-film catalog that were more complex than what is normally seen in kids' films, and detail on why these moments are significant to both the movies themselves and their target audience.
I would have to say Toy Story 3 would make this list for the emotional and mature aspect. I know I had no intentions of crying while watching this film, nor did othe adults- so the author can determine what emotional strings were pulled for this Pixar film. – Venus Echos9 years ago
The opening sequence in Up should probably be explored for this article, and Wall-E in general too (but I would say most Pixar films needs to be focused on for sure :) ) – Rachel Elfassy Bitoun9 years ago
In Monster's Inc., I've always considered the part when Mr. Waternoose is discovered to be behind a plot to kidnap children to help run the company. The movie is very sweet, but it does raise some interesting insight into how far companies are willing to go in order to make a profit. – Amanda Dominguez-Chio9 years ago
The opening scene in Finding Nemo was pretty sad... when Merlin decided to raise Nemo on his own and be a single father. For Up, I think this movie should be explored because of the montage that Carl's wife can't give birth, which is why her death was really sad. Actually, why are most mature moments in Pixar sad?
– YsabelGo9 years ago
Is 2D animation going down? What are some traditionally animated shows and films that are recent? Did Disney start CGI because of Dreamworks' success of Shrek? If 2D is going down, is it a bad thing? Why or why not?
This is a very interesting topic. As we are noticing a lot of 3D and CGI because of Dreamworks, Pixar and other companies producing a lot of films and shows. However, we should probably ask: Could 2D animation have evolved into 3D and CGI? Or did 2D animation "moved" from films and shows to games and other forms of entertainment? I think a lot of this stems from the audience's interests (for example: what's popular) versus the production companies, artists, and creators's interests (for example: making money). – Quill9 years ago
I think the most recent 2D animated movie I can think of is Song of the Sea which came out last year. It might also be interesting to discuss the animation Pixar used for Paper Man and will use for Moana. I can't remember what its called specifically but it looks like a combination of 2D and CGI at least in my opinion. – Cagney9 years ago
Same-face syndrome refers to a trend in illustration and animation towards deriving different characters from the same model. While this is seen as an amateurish way to do things, we consistently see it in the work of big studios such as Disney. In Frozen (2013), Elsa, Anna, and their mother all have the exact same facial structure, and share that facial structure with Rapunzel from Tangled (2010), then Honey Lemon and Aunt Cass from Big Hero 6 (2014). Meanwhile, male characters from the same films all have unique identifying features apart from their clothes and hair colour.
Why do the same facial features (tiny nose, big forehead and eyes, heart-shaped face) keep on coming up for female protagonists in Disney films?
You can discuss one of the evident reasons: imparting beauty. There's a way in which females in animation look beautiful (tiny nose, big forehead and eyes, heart-shape or v-shaped face). It could be seen in Japanese anime as well. Just like with the body, the male-female characters are quite predictable. Females would have hourglass-shaped bodies while males all look different. That's also a measure to make the females look even more beautiful. The same syndrome is in play here. Interesting topic to discuss. – Abhimanyu Shekhar9 years ago
Studies have shown that when subjects are asked to pick the most attractive female features from many options for the purposes of creating an ideally beautiful female face, the lips and face shape are those of an adult woman, while the eyes and nose skew very young, in the 12-year-old range. It speaks to many different issues -- ageism, for one, but it's pretty clear that the Disney female characters are being built according to this model. Not consciously, I'm sure. But the "big eyes" thing makes the Princesses look younger and more innocent, as well as reading to the audience as "attractive". – Monique9 years ago
Diversity should be a huge focus here. We need need more representation of minorites in general. Also, without pandering. – Joseph Manduke IV9 years ago
Definitely an interesting topic to discuss. Disney is almost infamous for re-using old animation weather it is just body structure, in dance scenes or characters (such as goofy and Donald in the little mermaid.) As a counter argument you could say it is a way for disney to save money by re-using the old animation as they have so many prominent female characters. I defiantly would also discuss how this image being projected on young girls could affect their ideas and thoughts on what beauty is, with big eyes small noes..ect – nicolewy9 years ago
I think this is an interesting title because while I recognize the syndrome as i'll call it. I also see it in eastern animation as well. It's something someone pointed out to me almost 10 years ago in life action media. "It's not that everyone in hollywood looks the same, it's like the casting director is casting from the same picture". If you're looking for a highlighting picture there's one that does the job perfectly. In The Big Bang Theory 8x20 "The Fortification Implementation" in the end of the episode Penny goes to audition for a role and when she opens the door everyone in the room is a skinny white blonde girl like her. --- It would be interesting to play devil's advocate and argue that sameification is representative. Different cultures will express sameification differently. Perhaps in American the blonde bombshell is the goal and perhaps in India the bold and fearless is the preferred type. You can look at what sameification says about the cultural standards. What does it project to other cultures. – wolfkin9 years ago
Another thing that should be pointed out is that this wasn't the first time Disney made cut costs or had coincidences on similar designs when you look through the history, for example, Disney's Robin Hood has the exact same outfit as Peter Pan's. Another interesting factor to point out is that this hasn't happened to just women in film, but even men. Best shown in the animated Don Bluth films when you look at the men in films like Thumbelina, Anastasia, and Titan A.E., the leading male look almost exactly the same. And one more think I like to add, though I might be alone on this, while I do get the importance what the topic is striving for, the topic also infamously started a gigantic flame war among the internet community. People taking the topic WAY out of proportion as an excuse to hate the film, and attack anyone who enjoys the film, claiming them to be sexist. Its an ugly issue where a quote was misinterpreted and taken WAY out of context even though the intentions to bring more diversity in female designs in disney films is progressively positive. – Ryan Walsh9 years ago
It would be interesting to look at the history of stop motion, from its first use in early cinema to its contemporary use nowadays. How has it changed? Why are we still attached to stop motion? What is the difference compared to digital effects and animation?
A good example would be The Nightmare Before Christmas and Tim Burton who lives off Stop motion. Coraline would be good to look at too. – SpectreWriter9 years ago
I think as a comparison of stop=motion, 3D/2D animation and CGI could work very well. Comparing things like (as SpectreWriter said) The Nightmare Before Christmas, Coraline, Wallace and Gromit to things like Pixar, South Park, CGI in say Marvel films and even motion capture technology in the recent Planet of the Apes films and Lord of the Rings/Hobbit. – Jamie White9 years ago
Stop motion, technicolour - Disney would be great to look at as well as Alfred Hitchcock, if we're thinking a more general outlook on the progression of film as a whole beyond just stopmotion. – kathleensumpton9 years ago
The Boxtrolls was also nominated for 2015 Best Animated Feature if you want to use a more recent example. – YsabelGo9 years ago
While Pixar's latest film Inside Out may have received near unanimous praise from both audiences at $40.3 million on its opening weekend and critics alike, their next project The Good Dinosaur is reported to be having problems. With almost the whole cast, the composer, the director, and even the color of the main character Arlo's eyes replaced mere months before the film's scheduled debut in November 2015 which was also pushed back from May 2014, it would be easy to question the business practices of Pixar itself. Could it be then that the studio's success with Inside Out was only a fluke and that the troubled production of The Good Dinosaur is the true foreshadowing of Pixar's future existence instead?
I disagree. I think The Good Dinosaur looks like it's going to be good. I think the departure of the directors would be due to other reasons. – SpectreWriter9 years ago
It might be too early to decide on whether The Good Dinosaur will be the downfall of Pixar. Aside from the first teaser, there is only one trailer out for the movie, and there are films that have gone through production problems and turned out decent, such as Brave which ran into similar problems as The Good Dinosaur. Perhaps instead of focusing on whether The Good Dinosaur will be the end of Pixar or if Inside Out was a fluke, you could go through and detail the changes the movie has gone through and perhaps offer your insight as to how you think this will affect the movie. – Seth Childers9 years ago
Dr. Charles Xavier used to say: “Just because someone stumbles and loses their path, doesn't mean they're lost forever.” – T. Palomino2 years ago
