Western Animation - Discuss American, Canadian, and European cartoons here (or just bitch about wokeshit, I guess)

[Commander X]

Looking at "Kraken' again, just...remember when animated characters used to have cheekbones and jawlines? I think a reason you see a lot of these designs cropping up is because lazy modern animators use the absurdity of their body shapes as a form of expression/characterization - which isn't supposed to be a bad thing but these people just don't have the skills to pull it off well and exaggerated character designs don't have to look like uglier versions of the corporate style dubbed "Humans of Flat".

Of all of the problems with Hollywood animation today the biggest is the near-total shortage of artists who can actually draw. What gets called "CalArts" or "Beanmouth" style is really just a lack of skill. It's not just about making animation easier to outsource - a lot of these artists can't actually do any better. And those that can, there are plenty of talented cartoonists in the American industry who have to hold back their skills and draw the sort of mandated ultra-bland styles on modern shows because they're professionals and want to work for a living.

 

[skykiii]

All all of the problems with Hollywood animation today the biggest is the near-total shortage of artists who can actually draw. What gets called "CalArts" or "Beanmouth" style is really just a lack of skill. It's not just about making animation easier to outsource - a lot of these artists can't actually do any better.

Supporting this, I recall something I read about MLP: Friendship is Magic where originally Faust wanted the ponies to all have different body shapes... but was told that the ponies have to all be uniform except for eyes and hair so that they'd be easier to draw (and probably easier to mass-produce molds of). The overriding statement/implication was that it was impossible to do a show where the various characters had different body types.

Meanwhile, here's a show from 1986:

How come a failing, financially unstable studio from 1986 that was still using traditional cell animation could do different body types and yet a digitally-animated show from a decently-funded studio could not?

 

[Mr. 0]

Supporting this, I recall something I read about MLP: Friendship is Magic where originally Faust wanted the ponies to all have different body shapes... but was told that the ponies have to all be uniform except for eyes and hair so that they'd be easier to draw (and probably easier to mass-produce molds of). The overriding statement/implication was that it was impossible to do a show where the various characters had different body types.

Meanwhile, here's a show from 1986:

View attachment 4820657

How come a failing, financially unstable studio from 1986 that was still using traditional cell animation could do different body types and yet a digitally-animated show from a decently-funded studio could not?'

Because that studio was American, and the Hasbro show in question was made in Canada.
Canadian animation studios are cheap as shit because all their funding comes from the government. They skimp on the animation because they can pocket whatever doesn't get used on the actual product.

 

[𖦹Junkpop𖦹]

I heard about this show and decided to check downtown out after it randomly popping up in my recommended from a small channel. I like the show but the comment's under more popular reuploads get genuinely fucking retarded. The art style and creativity is amazing and I like how the conversation's flow between each character. But I think it's nicer it stay dead with how internet fandom's get. There is no way you can have a show like this set in present times with how everything is.

 

[PS1gamenwatch]

I heard about this show and decided to check downtown out after it randomly popping up in my recommended from a small channel. I like the show but the comment's under more popular reuploads get genuinely fucking retarded. The art style and creativity is amazing and I like how the conversation's flow between each character. But I think it's nicer it stay dead with how internet fandom's get. There is no way you can have a show like this set in present times with how everything is.

The person who made this would make Megas which kept attacking MTV. Then Cartoon Network screwed him over. Can't catch a break.

 

[Basic Blond Boy]

Looking at "Kraken' again, just...remember when animated characters used to have cheekbones and jawlines? I think a reason you see a lot of these designs cropping up is because lazy modern animators use the absurdity of their body shapes as a form of expression/characterization - which isn't supposed to be a bad thing but these people just don't have the skills to pull it off well and exaggerated character designs don't have to look like uglier versions of the corporate style dubbed "Humans of Flat".

Of all of the problems with Hollywood animation today the biggest is the near-total shortage of artists who can actually draw. What gets called "CalArts" or "Beanmouth" style is really just a lack of skill. It's not just about making animation easier to outsource - a lot of these artists can't actually do any better. And those that can, there are plenty of talented cartoonists in the American industry who have to hold back their skills and draw the sort of mandated ultra-bland styles on modern shows because they're professionals and want to work for a living.

I will defend animators as I remember Pan talking about his insider knowledge on the industry and why Angular designs are no longer around. A lot of the blob animation/all curve, no edge, is due to the increasing time and budget constraints placed on animators. Blobs are easier to animate and with the former getting slashed more and more, it is a necessary means to produce fluid animatics.

 

[TVB]

Yeah and then there was the direct to video sequel who's not bad but could have been better.

You... really don't know box office figures, do you?

 

[Super-Chevy454]

You... really don't know box office figures, do you?

To be more precise, I don't care for box office figures. The 1st George of the Jungle did well worldwide over 150 million. On the other hand, I wonder if the two cartoons who was packaged with the old George of the Jungle cartoon; Superchicken and Tom Slick could attract a new generation of fans.

 

[TVB]

To be more precise, I don't care for box office figures. The 1st George of the Jungle did well worldwide over 150 million.

I literally just said that, and you're repeating what I've said. And even beforehand, you called it a flop. Please check your posts the next time you make a new one.

 

[wtfNeedSignUp]

Did Megas XLR ever have an ending? I remember it ending with the time travel evil Coop episode.

 

[TVB]

Did Megas XLR ever have an ending? I remember it ending with the time travel evil Coop episode.

The two-parter episode.

 

[Creep3r]

Did Megas XLR ever have an ending? I remember it ending with the time travel evil Coop episode.

Yeah the Evil Coop story was the two-parter finale.

Spoiler

It was pretty great overall. Coop has to deal with what might happen if he keeps getting obsessed with combat and wanton destruction, we see that for all of past Jamie's sass and amorality that he actually has the most potential for good and selflessness in future/alternate Jamie, we get some nice villains in evil Coop and evil Kiva, Coop has to deal with the loss of Megas (but its kind of quickly undone by just using the future/alternate Megas), Coop and Gorrath bond, Coop almost makes peace with the Glorft and they almost even shake hands/claws at the end before Coop fucks it up with his clumsiness and restores the status quo, and Evil Coop gets sent to Smurf Hell.

A pretty good way to go out but they never really resolved Kiva's story and there weren't any comics or creator comments about a possible ending as far as I know (Edit: except for a comment stating that Coop would eventually and accidentally creat the Glorft on a far off planet.)

Around ten years ago, one of the creators said he wanted to revive the show and even make a game for it but was forced to cancel it since the show belonged solely to WB and was treated as a tax write off. Its probably for the best the show never gets revived considering the state of most revivals and sequels these days. Same with Motorcity which was another epic show by the same team. At least they had some decent season finales.

 

[TVB]

Around ten years ago, one of the creators said he wanted to revive the show and even make a game for it but was forced to cancel it since the show belonged solely to WB and was treated as a tax write off. Its probably for the best the show never gets revived considering the state of most revivals and sequels these days. Same with Motorcity which was another epic show by the same team. At least they had some decent season finales.

Motorcity was another underappreciated series. My god I miss that show

Gotta be honest.... the thing I hate most about WA since the 2000s (really since the 1990s) is how they lean into gross-out. Like, Daffy Duck should never say the word "poop," should fundamentally be unable to understand the concept. Or in this case... just because he's a dog doesn't mean he does all standard dog behaviors. (Honestly this kinda inherently ruins any movie about a dog IMO).

Well screw you too, Duck Dodgers was kino

 

[Patrick Bait-man]

Well screw you too, Duck Dodgers was kino

Daffy Duck singing "it's not unusual," is enough to make it the most kino cartoon to have ever existed.

 

[wtfNeedSignUp]

Yeah the Evil Coop story was the two-parter finale.

Spoiler

It was pretty great overall. Coop has to deal with what might happen if he keeps getting obsessed with combat and wanton destruction, we see that for all of past Jamie's sass and amorality that he actually has the most potential for good and selflessness in future/alternate Jamie, we get some nice villains in evil Coop and evil Kiva, Coop has to deal with the loss of Megas (but its kind of quickly undone by just using the future/alternate Megas), Coop and Gorrath bond, Coop almost makes peace with the Glorft and they almost even shake hands/claws at the end before Coop fucks it up with his clumsiness and restores the status quo, and Evil Coop gets sent to Smurf Hell.
View attachment 4829549
A pretty good way to go out but they never really resolved Kiva's story and there weren't any comics or creator comments about a possible ending as far as I know.

Around ten years ago, one of the creators said he wanted to revive the show and even make a game for it but was forced to cancel it since the show belonged solely to WB and was treated as a tax write off. Its probably for the best the show never gets revived considering the state of most revivals and sequels these days. Same with Motorcity which was another epic show by the same team. At least they had some decent season finales.

The finale of Samurai Jack was alright, ironically its plot is inverted to Megas XLR.

 

[TVB]

The finale of Samurai Jack was alright, ironically its plot is inverted to Megas XLR.

I dunno, I felt a bit underwhelmed with Samurai Jack's fifth season. It was okay overall, but it just feels empty compared to the original CN years.

 

[Creep3r]

The finale of Samurai Jack was alright, ironically its plot is inverted to Megas XLR.

I dunno, I felt a bit underwhelmed with Samurai Jack's fifth season. It was okay overall, but it just feels empty compared to the original CN years.

I liked it as well but it felt horribly rushed and didn't feel nearly as good as the comic's ending where Jack has to accept that the past can't be undone and has to look to the future, although the comic also ends rather abruptly with no mention of whether or not he kills Aku, meanwhile the fifth season gives us a very satisfactory Aku kill.

Still Samurai Jack's fifth season was one of those rare good exceptions rather than the norm in a long string of horrible reboots and sequels. Only other decent sequels/revivals I can even name off the top of my head are the new TOP Gun movie, Puss in Boots Last Wish, and maybe Cobra Kai (but I haven't watched past the first season or so, so it could've jumped the shark for all I know).

 

[Jonah Hill poster]

Darkwing Duck is still a great cartoon that had a wonderful video game adaptation. What are some other great cartoons that had nice video game adaptations? Aside from SpongeBob and The Simpsons, of course.

 

[Patrick Bait-man]

Darkwing Duck is still a great cartoon that had a wonderful video game adaptation. What are some other great cartoons that had nice video game adaptations? Aside from SpongeBob and The Simpsons, of course.

Batman: Vengeance (2001) is based on The New Batman Adventures, and it's great.

 

[anustart76]

Batman: Vengeance (2001) is based on The New Batman Adventures, and it's great.
View attachment 4832577

Well it had Kevin Conroy, of course it was great.

Darkwing Duck is still a great cartoon that had a wonderful video game adaptation. What are some other great cartoons that had nice video game adaptations? Aside from SpongeBob and The Simpsons, of course.

Fairly OddParents had a pretty alright one with Breakin' Da Rules.