I just watched Kung Fu Panda. It's not half bad, truth be told. The action sequences are very well done, and it's often beautiful, but even so, the whole thing is in that generic 3D style that has become dominant ever since Pixar came on to the scene.
And that's a terrible shame, because it opens with this:
I find it depressing that the US animation industry is in such a state that something like this is relegated to a dream sequence in a film, before we're right back to the boring old soulless cgi.
Ho hum.
I'd wager a guess it's their signature style so they keep on using it...
ReplyDeleteIt's Dreamworks signiture style, not Pixar's.
ReplyDeleteI also quite liked Kung Fu Panda. As you say, the fights were good, and Jack Black was funny. But... but... I watched Toy Story 3 last week, and you only realise how average most CGI films look after you watch a Pixar one and see the amount of blood, sweat and tears in almost every element on screen. And the stories... Hollywood watched Toy Story and said "everyone wants CGI cartoon now!", rather than taking away the correct lesson, which was "everyone wants films that appeal to everyone, from the youngest child to the oldest adult, with the best plots, writing, acting, enfused with brilliance until the whole thing shines."
Hollywood watched Toy Story and said "everyone wants CGI cartoon now!
ReplyDeleteExactly.
wow. That intro is rad.
ReplyDeleteFun fact: a good friend of mine works in the animation industry (she had some small work in the credits to Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs) and her style is totally all stop-motion, pen+ink and really cool and atmospheric, but there is no love for that type of style in the film industry. Too expensive+not slick enough.