You call this Animation?

My article on why I think 2D animation is better than 3D animation.

I love 3D animation. It is so bad. And I mean BAD! What is up with animation today? Why does everything have to be computer-animated?

What's wrong with this?

Hmm? I don't know. I thought this was okay. In fact, this is what a cartoon is supposed to be. 2D animation, cartoon form, classic! I don't understand why everything animated has to be 3D now. Just because computers are more advanced these days, that doesn't mean they have to mess up classic stuff!

This is animation!

...not this!

On a positive note, we would never have started so many animation revolutions had it not been for one company. Disney. Before I go on with my complaints, let me give you a brief history of animation.

When cartoons were first introduced to the world in 1908, they were the real thing. There wasn't a lot. Back in the early days, cartoons were very short, had no color, and had no sound.

In 1928, Walt Disney's "Steamboat Wille" was introduced to the world. Not only was this the birth of Mickey Mouse, but it was also the first motion picture to contain synchronized sound.

In 1932, the very first colorized motion picture was introduced, which is coincidentally another Disney work, "Flowers and Trees".

Disney broke the rules of animation again in 1937. By the end of this year, Disney released "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs". This was the very first feature-length animated movie, and today, it's still one of the best.

As time went by, animation continued to evolve. This was long before computers were even invented.

Computer animation wasn't introduced until the 1980's. Back then, it wasn't very popular. Back in the late 80's and throughout the 90's, computer animation was mostly used to make special effects in movies and commercials.

It wasn't until 1995 when the first fully-computer-animated movie, "Toy Story" was released. Disney collaborated with Pixar to make this movie.

Everyone who enjoyed the movie had to wait three years for them to make a follow-up to "Toy Story". I'm talking about 1998's "A Bug's Life". But alas, at the same time, Dreamworks decided to enter the competition, and just a month before that movie's release, they released another computer-animated movie about ants simply entitled, "Antz". Of course, good old Disney sued them.

Sadly, in 2004, Disney's "Home on the Range" was released, and this is said to be the last 2D animated movie ever made. I don't particularly hate 3D animation. It's just that 2D animation happens to be my preference.

In fact, some of the 3D animated movies I've seen are pretty good. I enjoy "Finding Nemo", "The Incredibles" and "Happy Feet" a lot. While there are still others that tend to get annoying such as "Monster House", "Flushed Away" and "Monsters Inc."

"Shrek" is the prime example. I don't particularly despise Shrek, but do we really need to see him all over the place? I know he's popular, but that doesn't mean that I have to see him all over every store I walk into!

When I heard that 2D animation is now a thing of the past, I figured, "Oh well, I guess I'm going to have to get used to everything being 3D now." But like I said, not all is bad, in fact, some of it is quite good. However, I am dearly going to miss my beloved cartoon form animation, 2D animation. But wait! There is still some hope! I've been hearing rumors that Disney is going to be going back to 2D animation! YAY! I wonder what kind of stuff they'll have in store for me this time? Ah, good old Disney. I've worshipped you right from the start!

So which form do you think is better? The classic 2D cartoon, or the high-tech 3D CGI? You be the judge. I like them both, but 2D definately takes the winning vote from me! I'm just gonna hope that Disney keeps everything they do as classic as possible.

Comments

"Umm, yeah in 3d animation you can do more. I am sorry but I don't agree with your views. So instead of watching the incredibles you would rather watch so disney animated TV show. Wow again just wow."

I'm surprised he used a cheapo Disney cartoon to show how animation is supposed to be. And I'm also surprised someone said they hate Pixar but like Jimmy Neutron. *shrugs* I know it's just tastes, but some of the tastes here are really awful.

Umm, yeah in 3d animation you can do more. I am sorry but I don't agree with your views. So instead of watching the incredibles you would rather watch so disney animated TV show. Wow again just wow.

I'm sorry, but quoting the AVGN won't get you more thumbs up.

I like both, but I prefer 2D animation. And isn't Flushed Away claymation?

I prefer 2D animation over 3D. I,m pretty much sick and tires of
CGI.

dlover stop using 101 dalmations the series as a example god

To be honest, I like both but I do miss traditional 2D animation, I'm glad Disney are talking about bringing it back.

"Frightwolf, the reason why he didn't say Ratatouille is because this article was made before that movie was released."

Reread this sentence of my comment:

"It was out for a while by the time your article was written"

I already acknowledged that Ratatouille wasn't out but that the screenshot was.

Both types of animation are good.

Believe or not, it is animation. The 2D vs 3D thing has been beaten to the ground. I like both forms of animation.

I'm sick of the articles that bashes the animation of today. Times change, get over it.

Frightwolf, the reason why he didn't say Ratatouille is because this article was made before that movie was released.

Oh, and another thing I noticed is that some of these comparisons seem quite unfair. For example, that last shot of a 3D-animated movie isn't in the same vein as one such as Toy Story, and to put that as a side-by-side comparison with The Lion King and asking, "2D vs. 3D, you decide," is deliberately dishonest. I'd have preferred if you used Remy from Ratatouille, gazing at the beautiful city of Paris, as a basis of comparison. It was out for a while by the time your article was written and would have shown some intellectual honesty on your part.

Wow... a lot of you have no idea what you're talking about. Liking 2D better is one thing, but the way some of you degrade 3D animation is despicable.

1) 3D animation is just technology? Not at all. Anything can be art and anything can be "technology" depending on who is in charge. With all this talk about penguins, it seems like a lot of you are talking about non-Pixar 3D animated movies headed by companies out to make a quick buck. Pixar is the 3D version of old-Disney -- they care far more about quality and getting a good story going than simply about getting money. To even suggest that ever 3D movie since 2000 dunked while ignoring gems like Ratatouille, Nemo, Cars, Monsters, and Incredibles, is criminal).

Also, to suggest characters look unimaginative is not accurate -- most 3D movies haven't gone for a more whimsical, fantasy-like take on things, a la Aladdin and Little Mermaid, so they don't go for that sort of atmosphere.

2) 3D movies, GOOD ones, take 4 - 5 years to make. None of you seem to have a grasp of reality by suggesting 2D takes more time. GOOD 2D and 3D movies take times. I can shit out a poor looking 2D movie just as easily. And, as much as it pains people to admit, The Little Mermaid did not have good animation. Lion King, sure. TLM did not. People just blindly compliment these movies without digging up enough of a base to throw such a claim.

And in that respect, Colonel Gentleman had a point -- if you want to make an article this opinionated, research it some more and do something better than, "3D sucks, end of story," as the article creator said himself. You may be entitled to write an article, but anyone who visits this site has every right to critique it.

2D Animation is the best(actually the GREATEST).
I liked it better when Disney made 2D films (like Aladdin, Lion King, Beauty & the Beast, and all the other classics).

2D animation takes a lot of talent and effort(even though the process on making a 2D-animated-movie takes much time and money)But I like it waaay better than 3D animation (but I did like Happy Feet a lot).

I, myself, want to become an animator and I wanna make 2D animated films once I graduate school & college.

Me and a friend of mine were talking about this the other day.We really miss 2d animation.I mean those were the good old days.Movies like the Lion King,Mulan,Pochantas,The little Mermaid,and Aladin where the hell are they?

i very much agree with everyone who says 2Ds are much, much better than 3Ds. i don't say 3Ds aren't good but 2d is art 3d is just technology. and pls take a look at the stories, quite annoying, most of themused to like Shrek 1 and 2, but now i've just seen 3, which is horrible. some good movies just shouldn't have so many sequels. i also liked Madagascar, but that would be it.
i simply love the "air" old 2ds breathe, and te peace they give you, the characters are beautyfully designed and the landscapes are true works of art. i really hope they will return to 2d animation!!!! pls pls pls God make it true!!! i don't mean they should totally reject 3d, but i think these two forms can perfectly go together.

The person above me said every CGI movie from 2000 on execpt Shrek dunked the toilet in terms of quality. I'm going to have to disagree. "Ratatouille" was wonderful.

I think that every CGI movie from 2000 on (except Shrek) has pretty much dunked the toilet in terms of quality. I'm just as tired of anyone else here that 3-D animation is abundant these days, because it's easier and faster to make. 2-D may take much longer, but in my opinion it clearly shows an artists work. Many of them had cel hand drawing sequences which look stunning in the long run, compared to something done on Flash.

It just hasn't been the same since the mid 90s ended.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who noticed this. 2D rocked my world! this day I get upset to see the previe of the newest cartoon movie hoping its a 2d but nooo its a 3D :[

this is actually true. I did notice one day as I was thinking to myself: "Why are so many movies CGI nowadays?". I also noticed that a lot (and I mean a LOT) of movie are about PENGUINS??" Its pretty strange. EVERY FREAKING MOVIE has to do something to do with penguins. Sure penguins are cool and all but you'd think five movies [about penguins] in the same year is ENOUGH?

This article is not particularly well written, though I agree with some of its sentiments. You could have brought up alot of really good points, where there was just opinions instead. For example, I dislike alot of 3D animated movies, because the character designs are unimaginative, and the movement is animated poorly. Because you can make a 3D film much faster than 2D it seems like they even didn't take much time in writing and designing the characters.

Whether we agree with dalmationlover's viewpoints or not (personally, in this case, I definitely don't). . .I will argue, to the death if necessary, dalmationlover's right to write any article they choose. Actually, for not agreeing with much in it, I found the article relatively well-done. Lots of pictures (which helps only in articles like this) help convey the author's points. Other articles on RJ rely too heavily on pictures, and it becomes a big scrapbook of cut-n-paste crap, but not in this case.

Colonel Gentleman, while you have the right to say whatever you want, and while I agree with some of what you said, you seem pretty, well, impressed with yourself. Relax.

i thought no one would ever notice. i hear you, man. 3d animation is crap. and not to mention that everything that's 3d animated always looks creepy. thumbs up for this article.

"Incidentally, the next time you want to write an article, DON’T. It seems clear to me that you’re not very good at it."

Okay, Colonel Gentlemen (if that's your real name), I guess you can say that this article, being my 9th, was probably not as well-researched as my others. Now, I supposed you're going to go back through the article archives and make 650-word comments on my other articles, bash them and claim them to be lies to, huh? Just because you think this article was bull shit, that doesn't mean I'm gonna fuck it up again! All I want people to get out of this is just one thing: "2D animation rocks, 3D sucks, end of story." Oh, and one more thing: I'M NOT GOING TO STOP MAKING ARTICLES! I'm not going to make any more articles on this topic, but I will continue writing. You just wait until my next article. This one's gonna be better-researched, and there will be no lies in it at all.

I read somewhere that for whatever reasons, people will see 2-D/Traditional Animation as somethign for kids; whereas they see 3-D/Digital ANimation as something "for everyone", and that one of the reasons why Shrek and others of it's ilk was so successfull was because Parents were taking their kids to see them, but at the same time, young adults were going to see these films because it was acceptable to watch.

A few things to say here to Colonel Gentleman:

1. It's totally fine that you hate my article, and you seem to act like you've got the freedom to spit in my face and say that I totally skipped school to make this stupid article.
2. I don't know where you came up with all that shit about Snow White not being the very first full-lenght animated movie. I am positively sure that it was the very first one ever made, and I've been told by everyone I know who has seen that movie that it was the very first one in history! Also, back in the early days, cartoons were only allowed to be a few minutes long, so this project of Disney's was very risky. When they found out the movie was a huge hit, those cartoon rules no longer applied.
3. "Steamboat Willie" was not the first Mickey Mouse cartoon made, though it was the first one released. And believe it or not, yes it was the first cartoon with synchronized sound, because I GOT THAT INFO OFF OF WIKIPEDIA!!!
4. You can't just say to people flat in their faces that something they said is a lie. If what they said is false, but they didn't know it was false, that is not considered a lie! I just call that total rudeness!
5. I'm actually surprised at how much time you have on your hands since you post comments on my article that are 20 paragraphs long! If you're going to keep bashing people like this, then you need to take a break or take something, cos most people are not going to have the time and sit and read your whole damn message.

I do see at the end of your last comment that you calmed down, so I see that you're not that bad of a guy. So, next time, if you want to critique an article, do it in a tasteful manner. This is not YTMND!

Disney's Cinderella 3 was 2d.

I'm not really sure what your point was...

While I would agree that it's absolutely important to have your facts straight before writing an article -- something this author clearly didn't bother doing -- it's equally important to keep a cool head and a sense of tact when issuing corrections. But character assassination and plain ol' name calling is equally childish and counter-productive.

If you want to clarify things (which is more than a little necessary in this case), go for it. You feel Retro Junk needs more articles about animation's various benefits? Sit down at the keyboard and WRITE THEM YOURSELF, preferably sans the bile. The internet certainly doesn't need more people wasting space with "badly informed dross," but the demand for angry, holier-than-thou condemnations is probably even more unnecessary.

That being said, here's my two cents on the topic: it's all about STORY. You can have the best-looking animation -- be it 2D, 3D, Stop-motion, or something completely new -- but if the story sucks, no one's going to care. Hell, it's true for live action, or books, or comic strips, or music... make it good and people will watch/listen/read/enjoy.

a lot of those movies really are bad, but dont bomb toy story. that movie is one of the best movies to ever come out of disney pixar studios.

2D ANIMATION EXTINCT????

"...to bromg classic 2D animation back..."

I meant to type "...to BRING 2D animation back..."

Personally I prefer 2D Animation because I know I may sound like a jerk but imo it takes more talent to draw a picture than to run it thru a program but like I said thats my opinion and Im not trying to start an arguement. I realise it takes time and effort to make both 3D and 2D animation but I think people use 3D more now cause it costs less and takes less time but I would rather see something created by the human mind as opposed to a computer and a keyboard. But also Disney had used 3D animation in Beauty and The Beast Alladin and The Lion King to some extent like in the scene where Mufasa is trampled.

3D or 2D i just need to know what i just to know what happend to 2D animation is a thing of the past once 2
D animation will come back in the 2020 i think

Thank you for this article!! Computer animation has worn out it's welcome.

To me, all that matters is a good story and a good plot. A lot of cartoon movies made now and days have like a very stupid story or it's all jumbled together. Like Home on the Range, that movie sucked compared to Lilo and Stitch. And Hoodwinked sucked compared to Shrek.

It seems that everyone is more interested in making money instead of getting an audience that enjoys hearing a good story.

You know, I don't know, Do you think there may have been a big an audience if Finding nemo wasn't 3D, put Toy Story in that same example, or ANTZ, or A Bugs Life. 3D seemed to be so much more expressful, Would you like all of these movies I have mentioned if they were only 2D. ANY OF YOU TELL ME. Would you go to see these movies if they wernt 3D? "Finding Nemo" would look just like "The Little Mermaid again."

I like 2D and 3D equally...I don't really have a problem with todays animation. As long as the content of the movie is appealing, it doesn't make a difference to me what type of animation it is.

Great article! I Agree whit you on some parts. Tho I really did fancy the first 3D Movies such ass Toy Story but todays 3D Is mostly absurd if you ask me.
I hope disney will continue doing both 2D and 3D to be fair, Since it's to different worlds.

Yeah. I remember when former Disney CEO, Michael Eisner was wanting to get rid of all the 2D animators at the Walt Disney Company back in November of 2003. I was just as unhappy about it as the rest of us old Disney fans and those who were animators that worked there. That is why I went to see both Brother Bear and Home on the Range since they were to be the last 2D animated features from Disney. If there is such a deamnd for Disney to bromg classic 2D animation back, I think that the new Disney CEO, Robert Iger should go right on ahead and hire those who are good at scetching 2D cartoon animation back to the Walt Disney Company. I am a big fan of good old Disney movies with the classic 2D animation. Now there are some 3D animated movies that I like, but they can't replace 2D animated movies. I have to say that my favorite 2D animated movie from Disney would have to be either The Little Mermaid or Beauty and the Beast. As for 3D, I would have to say Toy Story.

This is a great article. I give it an A+.

May I just say that I completely understand where you are coming from, dalmatianlover. 3D animation is just not the same. There's no way one can go wrong with 2D. I miss it. These days movies have to be filled with the biggest, best, most expensive, advanced technologies making creators loose a certain "magic" elemt that was a key ingredient in making classic films such as The Little Mermaid, Sleepy Beauty, The Lion King, Aladdin (just to name a few). I realize a lot of work goes into making 3D films, but I've come to respect the artists' work when watching 2D--you can see the time and effort that was put into making a fantastic story come to life. I like Toy Story as much as the next person, but I will always treasure the 2D. If anyone's looking for great 2D animation, check out Japanese animation--Spirited Away, Castle in the Sky, Princess Mononoke. Fabulous artwork, great, unique stories!

I'm an animation collage student and yes i'm right there with you it annoying to see all the studios going CGI I to enjoy 2D alot more. Also I remember in our history of animation class doing a study on Bluth he left cause Disney was trying to take his character away right, which was Fivel at the time. I love Don Bluth especially his video game Dragons Lair MAN THAT WAS HARD.

Bluth left Disney years before 3D started to gain momentum. He left in 1979, way before 3D animation was even created. 3D had nothing to do with it.

Also, Bluth DID use 3D before; he co-directed Titan A.E.

Not a bad article, but if you like the old school animation, you cant say you don't like Don Bluth and his work. I wish you added a section in here on why he left Disney and how he never resorted to computer animation.

There are some O-K 3D films Toy Story is my fave But I miss 2-D animation so much I hate hate 3D animation now.

I do like 3-d but my absolute favorites are Sleeping Beauty and 101 Dalmations just because the backgrounds and the stylized animation is just fantastic. Especially in 101 where the backgrounds are just half painted in sometimes, and the forest scenes in Sleeping B are just amazing.
3-d's just too realistic sometimes. I agree with Jampie that they do feel like they're just churned out.

I like 3-d but they can't just have it all be 3-d
they have to have 2-d as well maybe 50-50 or something
like that. I definitely see your point.
On a side note thanks for the helpful comment on
my first article. My article pretty much bombed but
again thanks for the tip and i remember it next time
i try.

2-D animation is the best..
but you can do more stuff with 3-D animation

Just to add one last thing certain movies are better in there appropriate format. Like i satted beforee the lion king in 3D is a no no. But on the other hand Shrek in 2D would not work as well

I would have to agree with most of what you said. I find that 2D animating brings a certain aspect to a movie that 3D does not capture. Just try to aminige classic like the lion king or alladin in 3D it just would not have the same effect. I also prefer 2D anikation but then again maybe it's because i am a oldie. Don't get me wrong they have made some great stuff in 3D just check out Final Fantasy the movie now that some amasing grafics. The problwm is now they are just mass producing 3D animation. The bottom line people that make movie today it's nothing more taht a business to them and they only want to put out waht they think will sell

I'm on knuclear's side on this debate. There's absolutely nothing wrong with CGI animation, it's how the story is told. I'm also thinking you guys are completely underestimating how hard it is to do CGI. It's not as easy as pressing a few buttons, otherwise anyone could do it. Heck, some of my favorite movies are CGI instead of traditional animation. I'm sure as technology advances, the animation will get even better. It's only been going on for what, 15 years top? It'll get better.

didn't spongebob the movie come out in 2004 too?
i can't see them not putting animated movies in 2d...
some kids just don't get the 3d cartoons.

The Incredibles is by far my favorite movie in the world. But yea, sometimes I wish that they would start to come out with more 2D animated movies again.

I couldn't agree more. There is a huge difference between classic animation and computer generation. In my opinion, the former is still the best. Not every technological advancement makes things better.

@ Deidara: Japanese animation SUCKS (for the most part). And yes I am going to back up that claim with some blatently obvious evidence. The animation contains less frames, more re-used and recycled backdrops and keyframes and poor lip-sync (mouth just moves up and down regardless of what is being said). Plus again, they're all being done with computers anyway, so no, Japanese is not going strong with fantastic 2D animation, they're going strong mass-producing sub-par quality animation. Why do you think there's so much of it? Because they can produce it many times easier than has ever been possible before and still charge the same price on it as they did back in the old days.

TOY STORY is one of my favorite movies, and as for 2D or 3D CGI im going to have to go with 3D CGI. you have to face it everything is going to be 3D from now on.

I wish Disney would just go back to 2D Movies and leave 3D movies to Pixar. It takes Disney longer now to release a movie to theaters than it did when they made 2D movies. 1994-2001 was the best years for their movie flurishing. After that, it went down.

Now all I watch is anime, because Japan knows that they have to keep to 2D because they base their cartoons on manga

Aw man I'm so glad someone shares my opinion. I had dreamed of being an animator for so long but when I realized production of 2D movies had just suddenly stopped one day so did my dream of animating. I don't mind 3D but I just don't believe it to be that artistic. The process is definately artistic and creative but in the end it's the computer doing most of the work. (People feel free to argue with me if you disagree.)
At least there's still saturday morning cartoons today but god damn are those new kid shows ever shameful! I could draw better with a paintbrush in my butt.

South Park anyone?!

I love 2d animation man. I hear ya...BUT coming from someone who does REAL computer animation at school, i love 3d more. U ever try drawing 26 frames of a character to equal 1 second of animation. As much as the work is fun, it's tiring. i Want to rip my eyes out after i reach 100 pages...3d animation is taking over. Deal with it. This article sucks, btw dont even mention chuck jones, the guy who spearheaded the great animations from merry melodies.

I enjoy 2D animation a lot more so than 3D, but I'm not going to try and downtalk 3D animation. True, it doesn't take the amount of talent or skill that the traditional animation process takes, and it's not as pleasant to the eye most of the time, but I believe that it's just that they haven't perfected the technology yet. I don't believe 3D animation to be a fad, and calling it so would be ludicrous. I think it's still in the early stages of evolution, and someday it's gonna blow our minds! Until it does though, Ralph Bakshi is the bomb!

Ok my simple opinion on a most excellant article. I love our traditional 2D animated cartoons I also love the 3D animated cartoons. Even though we have the technology to make the 3D cartoons that does not mean that we have to stop making simply amazing 2D Cartoons. Like what the heck, 2D animation is part of our country's culture. I mean comics are something that every kid in the fifties grew up on. Mind you that was 2D animation that was great. How bout we continue to make more and more amazing Cartoons on not just give up on them cause we can make them 3D on the computers!! Great article.

Wait last 2D Disney movie? That's not right what about new Princess movie they are planning to release, The Frog Princess.

For some unknown reason, I really despise Pixar and the 3D cartoon. It's moving away from a real drawn creation to someting done on a computer. If I want to see something real, I'll go watch a "grown-up" movie with real people. If I want to be a kid, give me a cartoon, not a 3D rendering.

In my opinion, I like both as long as its done right. I love Pixar movies, and I love the classic Disney and I really like a lot of Japanime, such as Studio Ghibli(Not the crappy dubs Disney is doing, or any dub for that matter IMO). And believe it or not, even in 2D animation nowadays and for awhile, much of it is done with computers. Plus they don't even do a lot of animation here in America any more, they have it done overseas so much anymore like in Korea. The big thing is, I think, is it all comes down to money. Sure, we all have every right to make money and earn a living, however, when greed becomes a factor, that usually messes a lot of things up. And even with that aside, when you put say a million dollars into a project like an animated movie, you usually expect to get more back. Thats where the risks lie. And this can be where marketing comes in, whats in, whats out, whats the fad today so I can take advantage of it to make a buck, not that thats a bad thing but thats how it works. People seems to think 3D is in, so there gonna put money down on it. I think it simply because a lot of 3D movies have done so well that everyone is getting on the band wagon. But like I said, its a fad, it wont last. One other think, that I believe. 3D is just another form of artwork, just like 2D, painting, sculpting, etc. etc.. its just another form of art. And like with anything, not everyone will be into it. Like in painting, Some people like Norman Rockwell's work, and dislikes Pablo Picasso's work, and vise versa. well thats more or less my two cents, there was more I wanted to say but my mind is drifting away, oh well.

2D is way better and in my opinion 3D animation is garbage. and why is there so much pixar movies? i meen i never liked them anyway. just a few days ago I saw TMNT and i expected it to be good action like teenage mutant ninja turtles are supposed to be but instead they did a whole bunch of random things and there wasn't very many fight scenes. In my opinion movies should be live action or 2D not something that a computer came up with.

Here's my standpoint. 2D animation takes a lot of effort to make, and you can see it in the final product. I remember animated movies would come out from the same company maybe three or four times a year. CGI movies take almost no effort to make, thus producers keep churning them out one after another, often with similar plot lines.

I tend to stick to 2D because of craftsmanship. And it's not just Disney that makes them. Amblin made movies like Balto and Fievel, and I can't remember who did Anastasia but that was another good one that wasn't Disney.

Here's my simple opinion. 2D good, 3D bad! LOL, I'm kidding. Seriously, 3D needs improvement for the fact that objects and characters in 3D cartoons look like they are made of thick jello and have been formed in a jello mold. If some objects in a 3D movie were 3D thats fine. However, the everything being three 3D has been too much. Its like looking at the movie or cartoon while still covered in slime after being slimed. Its the reason I started hating Reboot. It was just too much.

3D will never hold the same feel as 2D did or does. 3D is trying simulate an amount of realism. Cartoons are suppose to take a viewer away from that. And honestly, if CGI is not done very well, it looks very very bad. Most of the time, 3D characters move like bad actors. and things tend to appear with out weight. Not to say 3D is a bad medium, there are few acceptions. 3D lacks that "other world" imagination 2D use to bring. If things appear real, they tend to seem more tangible and almost attainable. 2D cartoons are like that unreachable horizon. It is true that 2D does take more work to put out. Now a days those animations are also done on computer. 3D animation as far as I remember from past experience, uses a lot of pre-posed wire frame models. I like when 3D is used to help enhannce 2D animation. I am getting pretty worn thin with cartoon movies constantly only being CGI. I love watching the Wallace and Gromit animations. It does take skill to do either, but 2d and claymation show more talent. And I'm afraid it will be a lost art.

I doesn't matter if it's 2, 3, or 51D as long as the movie is just gripping with plot, characters and/or gags!

Plus you have to think about it... 2d animation requires alot more labor!! Making movies cost much more. The way movies are released now-days, there's no hype... Movies are just movies these days... Its hard to make back what you spend, especially if you include labor for a 2D animated movie.

Who gives a shit about what Disney does with their crappy movies, they all suck either way.
2D or 3D doesn't matter when the movie is aimed for KIDS ages 3 - 12.

And since the worlds biggest producer of cartoons (JAPAN) is still going strong with fantastic 2D animations (Although using some 3D effects) aimed at everything from kids to adults, I couldn't care less about what Disney does.

2D shits all over 3D same with the 90 shits all over now

well like cquinniey i like them both but toy story is a classic and snow white but great artical

I love 2D and 3D animation. I wish animation studios would focus more on storylines and character developement rather than what medium they are going to use to tell a story. Unfortunately these decisions are based on the opinions of investors. Who for the most part do not care about their product as long as the movie's domestic, international, and dvd sales make profit. I don't think we'll see many 2d theatrical releases produced outside of Japan or Korea, ect. until a major studio proves it can consistently make 2d animated films that make one hundred millions dollars at the box office.
As for anime I wish the character designs weren't the same for every movie. The Galaxy Rangers, Bionic Six, Silver Hawks and Bucky O'Hare were all action cartoons but there is variety in the deisgns.

Using cgi is just about having more variety. I think there both great within there boundries, as long as cgi stays in movies such as Toy Story, Chicken Little and all the rest of the movies that are currently cgi then i have no problem, it's when they use cgi on movies that were currently 2d thats so crossing the line. I also think they should bring back some more 2d animated cartoons movies etc.

I love 3-D only when its for special effects otherwise GO 2-D!!!!!!

Actually, Disney gets more credit than they should. The first cartoon with synchronized sound was actually a Fleischer cartoon from 1926. The first feature-length cartoon was made in 1917 in Argentina.

Check out these Wikipedia links for more info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animated_cartoon#Technologies
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animated_cartoon#Feature_films

Anyway, I'm sick of 3-D animation too. Just because it's computer generated doesn't mean it has to be 3-D. They could make 2-D animation with computers, they just don't right now. (They mostly do that in Japan.)

What's funny is that in 10 or 15 years, kids will probably become nostalgic for 3-D animation...

Great article, I totally agree. 3D animation is for me getting worse, and I'm really only watching live-action movies nowadays. But, theres the Aqua Teen Hunger Force movie in (mostly) 2D, and The Simpsons Movie will be 2D. And since Disney's trying to come back into the picture, there will be hope for cartoons once again!

I like both. I don't hate CGI,but don't see why it has to be one or the other. To be honest I love anime and watch that a lot more than any CGI stuff.You should try anime. A lot of anime has some good quality art that's not CGI,but looks better than normal cartoons. Try full metal alchemist,ghost in the shell or witch hunter robin.

The irony in your comments, is shows like Lelo and Stich, ARE CGI, almost all animation is done on computers, regardless of the style. But i agree with you, i heavily prefer the classic style of animation, i'm sick and tired of seeing the same stuff recycled over and over, 3-d CGI cartoons end up looking the same.

its a shame really, there isn't any high quality animated video's for this generation, where is this generations Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Snow White etc. Most of these CGI cartoons in the theater are in one ear, and out the other.

heh heh looks like someone took a quote and edited it from the angry video game nerd. if this is the last stand for 2d animation, i really don't know if i'll stick with these new 3d movies. 3d animation doesn't take as much work as drawing pictures from frame to frame. same thing with those shows like mucha lucha and el tigre. both seem to use flash animation and they don't take much work to use in a show or movie. so what i'm saying is, handdrawn animation needs to come back

I agree with you except on the second and third picture, which according to me is crap-animation too.

Sorry I spelled Aladdin wrong haha

The stories were so epic when it was all 2D. The Lion King was unreal and Aladin had gorgeous animation. Even adults enjoyed them because the stories were so good. Now people just want funny looking characters to stare at for 2 hours with funny/cute voices.

Acutally, I hate Pixar. They ruined animation IMO. The only 3D material I like are the Shrek and Jimmy Neutron franchises. Anyway, i do miss 2D animation, nad am glad to see it back. Leave CGI to special effects and video games.

Besides Toy Story, TMNT and a few others, I cant stand CGI or computer animation. CGI seems really inorganic and lifeless to me, whereas 2D seems to pop out more (haha thats odd). I think that 2D is the way to go. However the 2D movies I've seen of late, have also been poorer in quality then those of old. The cartoons coming out now have poor quality and also alot of times use CGI and computer technology. It sickens me that they do this because it mixes two medias (CGI & DRAWING) and makes it look really crappy. End Rant.

-COOLHAND

I think the animation itself is irrelevant to how good a movie is. Of course, it has to be high quality animation and 3D movies usually are. It is sad however that 2D animations are being phased out on the big screen. Even modern 2D movies are made almost entirely on computers now (Ed, Edd n' Eddy being the only animation still in production that uses classical animation methods).
I saw Flushed Away just the other day actually and I enjoyed it to be honest. But the writing I have to say was abysmal. It was all over the place, just seemed to be progressing for very little reason. Like, how the hell did Roddy know exactly when and what was about to happen down in the sewer during the England match? That wasn't adding clues together, that was purely jumping to a ridiculous conclusion that just happened to be right for the sake of it.
The main problem I have with 3D movies is that you go away from them after you've seen them with a certain feeling of dissatisfaction, no matter how amazing it was. They all seem to follow the same theme, which is always some guy feeling low and down and eventually through his friends, cheers up after some self-realisation or whatever you want to do it. Seriously, every movie from the screenshots up there is about that and it gets stale after a while. Not all do it sure, but come on...
Sorry I've ranted too long. Nice article, I could converse about the subject for days

I'm getting pretty sick of all the CGI crtap that's out there today, but I have to say Meet the Robinsons was actually great. It's got that 2D Disney charm and heart. But I'm glad they're bringing back 2D at Disney. CAN'T WAIT!!

disney has kicked out the cgi people!. no more crapy disney movies like jimmy neutron or meet the robinsons theres hope for 2D again

You just said in the first sentence, and I quote, "I love 3D animation", which completely contradicts the main body of your article.

I don't think computer animation is bad. Yes, Disney may have left their traditional animation technique, but computers have saved them, as well as other studios, a lot of time and money.

I actually like that Dire Straits music video "Money For Nothing".

Although this is mostly subjective, I applaud you for at least doing your homework on computer animation, and the history of animation.

It's not the computer animation I have a problem with, but the fact that they stock these movies with Oscar winners and Grammy winners as voice-over stars. On TV, people like Rob Paulsen and Tara Strong (to name but quite a few) are major parts of the shows they work on, but when it comes to movies, they're relegated to the wasteland known as "additional voices".

A talent like Tress MacNeille or Maurice LaMarche can give you hundreds of voices for several tens of thousands of dollars, but the studios prefer to stock their characters with actors who pull millions of dollars per role, thereby increasing the budget, which means that if the movie bombs, the studios lose money...and lots of it.

I think the voices are the ones that count.

Borgem, it was a sarcasm.

Is the sentence "I love 3D animation" in the beginning of the article meant to be sarcastic? Because if it it's not than I'm a bit confused.

On a side-note I prefer traditional animation, although I did enjoy "The Incredibles".

cgi is a fad i think people are geting tired of the same style and movies very similar storys

And after that they are releasing Rapunzle unbraided

Disney is going back to traditional animation (hand drawn, 2D). The next one is called the Frog Princess.