Media Coverage of Animation Problems, Question to Don

[Lina Soul]

Hello!
I'm a newbie on the forum but I'm not a newbie in journalism. Traditional animation is very dear to me, so I'm taking courage to drive wide audience's attention to its problems by publishing a story in a national magazine.
I currently live in Russia. My country is considered to be a promising animation market, but 2D is disappearing here, too. I guess, this tendency can be seen all over the world, except Japan, of course. The quality magazine "Russian Reporter" I'm writing to has the widest circulation among all of the Russian magazines covering political, social, scientific and cultural issues.
I suppose, people's interest to 2D may increase by giving it more attention in the media. The current situation in the field seems to be very poignant. The human kind mustn't let such a wonderful medium as traditional animation die out. But as I know most people are unaware of its demise happening.

So here's my question to Don: what the future of 2D will be? How can it survive in the world we're living in? Where are we going and what can we do?

I'm desperately waiting to hear anything from Don Bluth. But, everyone in here, feel free to express your opinion. From what I read in forum threads I know you, guys, are amazing, very creative and enthusiastic people who are not indifferent to the future of our beloved 2D animation.

[Rodney]

Hello Lina Soul!

Welcome to the forum.

While waiting to hear from Don and other members here's a little from me...

The topic you've selected has a variety of views and opinions and more than a few are expressed here in this forum.

Here is a topic focused on that subject:

The demise of 2D animation (http://www.donbluthanimation.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11)

I'm of the opinion that while in decline here in the U.S. and certainly out of favor with the mainstream studios for use in feature films there is still a lot of life in traditional hand drawn animation. Someone posted just yesterday suggesting that exactly the opposite of the popular trend in doomsaying is happening at the moment:

Solium suggests "one can argue (animation) has never been stronger" (http://www.donbluthanimation.com/forum/showpost.php?p=16524&postcount=109)

'The demise of animation' makes a better headline but... I find myself in agreement with him. This was confirmed every time I walked into a video store in the U.S. recently or as I turned on the TV. Animation seemed to be everywhere. It was primarily the stories people were telling that I found little interest holding me.

Of course, there is really is a lack of quality hand drawn animation with a good of compeling storytelling. This is more or less how its always been with obvious exceptions when Disney released a film every few years.

I'm back in Japan now and even with the percieved acceptance of animation, I find I'm not satisfied with the level of quality hand drawn animation here either. Of course I'm hoping to see Miyazaki's new animated film next week! Japan does have that going for them, they do have hand drawn animated features like that worth seeing.

[Solium]

I guess one must also define their definitions.

Has 2D classically animated films died out? Yes.
Has 2D limited animated cartoons died out? No.

Whats the longest running series in American history and still going strong?
A 2D animation cartoon called the Simpsons.

Now that's not what "I" want to see. So in some respects 2D animation is dead for me. But its not really dead over all in the market place.

But there is a reason to be concerned. How many potential artists are studying fine art and developing their drawing skills? Compared to how many potential artists are going straight into digital design?

When Mr. Bluth and Disney acquired the audiences appetite for classically animated 2D animation films there was a huge void of qualified artists and animators for the demand. (at that time)

As some have suggested it just might be some animation house no one has ever heard of, that lights the fire for high end 2D animation again. I just don't know if Disney can relight the fire because they are "fixed" by their style.

While its been stated the prime market, (teens) loose interest in 2D animation I don't think a quality product has been produced for them. Whats been offered has either been high quality animation with a lack luster script, or a good script with very badly drawn animation.

If you can combine a mature story, with Ralph Bakshi type characters (like Wizards) and animated like a Don Bluth film, I bet it would be a sleeper and huge success. In fact wouldn't that be cool? I would love to see Don Bluth remake Wizards!

Bottom line is no one is going to give you the money to do that. Mr. Bluth got financing for The Secret Of NIMH because he and others slaved away for 5 years (unpaid) working in his garage.

Someone needs to "slave away", do a short for the love of the art, not for the money in order to prove 2D animation can attract an audience again.

[Rodney]

Well said Solium!

There are a lot of elements at work here.
One may be just the cyclic nature and interest of art.
How many other particular styles, classifications or techniques have evolved or otherwise fallen from favor or out of the public eye?

Here also is human nature at work.
My recently-turned-teenage daughter really loves to draw but that interest has taken a back seat to more pressing concerns. If not for some of her other friends also having an interest in drawing she might not be drawing as much as she is right not. When I was her age very few in my school put pencil to paper and drew at all. Of course there were others but in the respect that it was publicly know that it was important to me I was considered odd.

Someone else said it before, there is a lot of competition for the teenage mind.

There does seem to be a particular bias in the formation of the underlying article. I guess that is the whole purpose for investigative reporting on the subject; 'What exactly are animation's problems?'

[Solium]

'What exactly are animation's problems?'

I think you narrowed it down to the most important question, and it is one that needs some soul searching and thought provoking discussion. ;-)