Anyone Else Think This?

Okay, funny story: I was on Toonzone when I noticed a topic by a member commenting about the state of hand-drawn animation these days. It went on about how American shows are looking flatter and Japanese shows more and more the same (ignoring the comments between the two about animation quality).

I caved and posted on there too. But it inspired me to ask the same question - Do you think animation in America has become much less, well... "In-depth", so to speak?

Oh, before I forget, here's the topic in question. Complete with the OP's abuse of words like "Knowed" and over-obsessive love for TMS and Japan.

edited 10th Apr '13 6:03:40 PM by philipnova798

No. I'd probably agree a couple years ago (where there were a lot of animated shows (and anime, I noticed at the time) that were slowly started to feel like they were trying to use the "safe", similar styles of design and animation), but not really now. I can't comment on the state of the Japanese animation industry currently, but we've in fact been getting many projects, both tv shows and movies, with innovative character design and use - as well as creative ideas in setting and animation over here these days.

Do you mean "In-depth" animation-wise or "In-depth" story-wise?

Animation-wise.

(Never mind then)

edited 10th Apr '13 7:00:36 PM by Randomness4

There was definitely a time when I thought that was happening, but in my eyes it's pretty much over. For now.

Considering that The Legend Of Korra, Adventure Time, and Gravity Falls exist, and also that animation in most anime looks like the world runs on Fraps, I would say no.

edited 11th Apr '13 11:49:28 AM by PhysicalStamina

To be fair, I've been thinking about that of most animation on TV (and some released theatrically, like Wizards or The Pebble and the Penguin). I think it may have to do with either laziness, money & time, limitations of the technology or all the aforementioned.

I will admit this however - I don't necessarily mind it either. As long as it has enough frames to get from point 'A' to point 'B'. Which is something a few shows (mainly those by Seth MacFarlane or many of Di C's late '80s/early '90s works) seem to lack.

edited 11th Apr '13 1:39:43 PM by philipnova798

Um...no?

Seriously, look at The Amazing World of Gumball, The Princess and The Frog, Toy Story 3, Adventure Time, Regular Show, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Robot Chicken, all that looks different.

If there's one advantage most western animation has over anime, it's the many, many varied art styles. While there are differences in art styles in anime, admittedly, for the most part it all seems very homogeneous. Even shows of similar genres or from the same creators can have very different art styles—few people will probably confuse a Simpsons character and a Futurama character, for example.

I'll drink to that.

Bad example.

...how? They're drawn pretty differently, mostly in that everyone except black and Indian people in The Simpsons are yellow!

The colouration is different. The style of the line art is pretty similar.