Mo-Cap

[starlac]

I haven't seen Happy Feet, so I won't make any comments towards it, only that it hasn't really sparked much interest (something which is quite commonplace among all films these days).

However, I’m increasingly finding this kind of publicity toward mo-cap to be worrisome, if only because I’ve never seen any that actually looked any good without first being ‘cleaned-up’ by an animator. It is true that motion-capture isn’t anything new, the Fleischer’s used rotoscoping back for in their earliest days, Disney used live-action reference footage and videogames have been using the technique for a few years.

One thing that truly boils my skin is someone, anyone saying that Mo-Cap is better than a trained animator; I mean the last theatrical short I added: The Zoot Cat, has almost nothing but dancing throughout. Animation is full of musical numbers, from the lowliest DTV to the greatest works of the Walt Disney company: hey The Little Mermaid was credited as helping to save the Hollywood musical. The greatest quote from animation and art that I remember is “If you can imagine it, you can draw it.”

The other thing that annoys me is this obsession with the industry of pushing 3D towards greater and greater realism and the lack of individuality (both in animation and videogames), this has honestly alienated me from wanting to watch it more and more. I use to go and see every animated film released in the cinema, the last time I did that? I think it was Over the Hedge.

[lupercal]

The other thing that annoys me is this obsession with the industry of pushing 3D towards greater and greater realism and the lack of individuality (both in animation and videogames), this has honestly alienated me from wanting to watch it more and more. I use to go and see every animated film released in the cinema, the last time I did that? I think it was Over the Hedge.

Ditto. That's the last new film I've vothered watching. I went to the trouble of driving to another suburb where the nearest video store is, and just ended up walking past 'Cars', 'Valiant' and I can't remember what else. Really, I would only have been watching them for review purposes, and traditionally film distrubtors are supposed to give them to you for that (at least that's what record companies did when I had a radio show.) I think from my last two or thre visits to the video store I came back empty-handed, except for OtH, and that was largely because a good friend used to try to get me into the cartoon strip (it turned out to be good, to me amazement, as I didn't think Dreamworks had it in them to produce anything good anymore, so maybe I should try 'Cars' and 'Valiant' *shudder*... when I'm off my tits or something.

I think the crowd who are expecting some sort of 2D rennaisance are in cloud cuckoo-land really, really. I think it's about as likely as vinyl LP's taking over from CD's again (outside of dance clubs).

Loop

[KimbaWLion]

It is true that motion-capture isn’t anything new, the Fleischer’s used rotoscoping back for in their earliest days, Disney used live-action reference footage and videogames have been using the technique for a few years.Not to be too nit-picky, but Disney & Co. did a LOT of rotoscoping over the years. It was part of a desire realism in animation, probably not all that different than the current cries of 'realism' in terms of CG animation. I always found rotoscoped animation just as flat and unsatisfying as the majority of today's CG. (And I also have not seen the current ne plus ultra, Happy Feet.) If I had to pick one recent animated feature to show to someone, it would be Triplets of Bellevile.

One thing that truly boils my skin is someone, anyone saying that Mo-Cap is better than a trained animatorMy question is, who is saying it? Upper management is going to like that sort of idea because it's quantifyable. Artistic talent isn't.

[KimbaWLion]

I don't know what happened here - I suspect I hit 'edit' rather than 'quote' - in any case this is my post, not KimbaWLion - Loop



Question: Would Don Hertzfeld's stuff be as funny if done in CG?

Counter-question: who the hell has seen it? Who is going to throw a hundred million dollars at a feature length equivalent, and who is going to arrange for it to open in 1,000 theatres nation-wide?

Yes, it's very funny. It's also very obscure, as far as Joe Public is concerned.

Loop

[athena]

The other thing that annoys me is this obsession with the industry of pushing 3D towards greater and greater realism

Indeed, my feeling is what's the point? It's like when I look at something like a Robert Bateman (http://www.robertbateman.ca/) painting and the thing is like a photograph. Sure you can be impressed by the realism, but at some point you kinda start asking why the artist spent so much time and energy duplicating what could be achieved with a camera.

What happened to using animation for a look and feel that only animation can achieve? What happened to the amazement that comes with realizing that you're getting all choked up because the mother of a 2D drawing just died? I don't care how realistic a CG character looks or moves, if it can't evoke that kind of an emotional response then it's a waste of energy... it's just a software exercise... the hyper-realism is doing nothing to serve the story and THAT is supposed to be the whole point!