Line #25 Main/ThinLineAnimation


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4	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/thinline.png]]
5	[[caption-width-right:350:Round eyes, simple designs, and a feeling of motion.[[note]]Top, left, and right: ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'', ''WesternAnimation/RegularShow'', ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime''[[/note]]]]
6
7	->''"You'll also notice that the designs of many of these characters is much more simpler than ones of the past. They do this 'cause it gives way to faster animation, while also allowing more time to focus on color, backgrounds, and of course, the story."''
8	-->-- '''WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic''', [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXpWAO0F7ck Are Kids Shows Better NOW Than Ever?]]
9
10	Thin-line animation is a stylistic trend that has emerged in TheNewTens based around thinner lines, rounder shapes and [[RubberHoseLimbs noodle-like appendages]] than seen in standard animation, all while still being distinctively {{Western\|Animation}}.
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12	This style may have emerged for a number of different reasons. The emergence of {{anime}} and their influences on Western cartoonists have made them focused less on detail. Different coloring techniques with digital art may have removed the need for thicker lines, and thus it only remains when it's a stylistic choice. The need for quicker, cheaper animation after the economic downturn may also have driven the desire for more cheap, yet still pleasing animation styles. It also may have been due to the widespread adoption of Platform/HighDefinition (HD) televisions -- before HD, [[{{Strobing}} small features such as thin lines in an image tended to flicker and/or disappear depending on their angle and motion]]; HD allowed the freedom for this new, previously unattainable style. Finally, many Western cartoonists are striving to achieve a modern art style that is distinctly American without being [[{{Disneyesque}} just another Disney clone]] or [[{{Animesque}} overly influenced by foreign elements such as the aformentioned anime]].
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14	It is also known as the "[=CalArts=] Style", a pejorative term originally coined by ''WesternAnimation/TheRenAndStimpyShow'' creator Creator/JohnKricfalusi in a post on his blog ''Blog/JohnKStuff'' which alleged that certain animated films and many animators in TheNineties who graduated from the California Institute of the Arts [[{{Disneyesque}} heavily copied Disney's animation and art style]], [[note]]coincidentally, [=CalArts=] was indeed founded by Creator/WaltDisney himself[[/note]] which has since morphed into any animated work from the 21st century that uses this style that one considers "samey-looking", despite similar art styles [[OlderThanTheyThink being the norm since the infancy of the medium itself]]. However, the term tends to be used more specifically for works that not only have thin lines and round shapes, but also bean-shaped heads, bean-shaped mouths and dome-shaped teeth, so works that have the former but not the latter don’t tend to get labeled as such. As such, please do not include examples of shows that simply have [[Administrivia/PeopleSitOnChairs thin outlines]] -- they also need rounded/noodle-like styles to qualify.
15
16	Thin-line animation is actually OlderThanTelevision, since many cartoon shorts during MediaNotes/TheSilentAgeOfAnimation (particularly those made by Creator/{{Disney}} and Creator/MaxAndDaveFleischer) featured [[InkblotCartoonStyle rounded ball-and-noodle art-styles and thin outlines]]. However, [[EnforcedTrope it was often done out of necessity since the simplistic designs made things easier on the animators at the time]].
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18	Compare PuniPlush and {{Animesque}}, contrast with ThickLineAnimation. See also ToothStrip, SphereEyes, BlackBeadEyes, BlackDotPupils.
19	----
20	!!Examples
21	[[foldercontrol]]
22
23	%%[[folder:Advertising]]
24	%%* Froot Loops' [[https://www.ispot.tv/ad/nK49/froot-loops-see-the-froot-loops-world "Froot Loops World"]] commercial is animated in this style. It caused a minor bit of controversy for its resedign of Toucan Sam, who was rendered much cartoonier than the rest of the spot.
25	%%[[/folder]]
26
27	[[folder:{{Anime}}]]
28	* ''Anime/KirbyRightBackAtYa'' zigzagged this trope, with its combination of rounded designs [[note]]Dedede, Escargoon, the citizens of Cappy Town, and Kirby himself[[/note]] and angular designs.[[note]]The humanoid characters and most of the monsters[[/note]]
29	* ''Manga/OnePiece'' is one of the few modern animes to use this trope. Its art-style, while ''far'' from simplistic, is noticeably more rounded and cartoony compared to other anime at the time of its initial premiere. [[ArtEvolution It lessened over time]], however, with the art-style becoming more angular and complex.
30	* ''Anime/PokemonTheSeriesSunAndMoon'': Everyone looks much more rounded compared to previous eras, like a quasi ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' with a Pokémon coat of paint. In fact, not only has the palette gone for a much more pastel inspired look, but also did the eponymous Pokémon themselves.
31	[[/folder]]
32
33	[[folder:Asian Animation]]
34	* The Chinese animated series ''[[https://www.cartoonbrew.com/tv/the-creator-of-incredible-ant-is-bringing-fresh-style-and-storytelling-to-chinese-animated-series-191540.html Incredible Ant]]'' is notable for being a rare non-western example of this artstyle. Series creator Cheng Li has stated that this was intended to help the show stick out from the numerous {{animesque}} series produced in his country, with his own show's art direction being heavily inspired by the many popular Thin-Line western cartoons he himself is a fan of.
35	[[/folder]]
36
37	[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
38	* ''Animation/HayopKaTheNimfaDimaanoStory'' sports a lineless variant of this style, making it stand out compared to other examples.
39	* Several recent Creator/{{Pixar}} movies, while 3D animated and therefore lack the thin outlines the style is named after, otherwise resemble this visual style, with the characters having large, often pear-shaped heads, round eyes and bean-shaped mouths. Examples include ''WesternAnimation/TheGoodDinosaur'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Luca}}'' and especially ''WesternAnimation/TurningRed''; the latter also employs WingdingEyes and other stylised expressions that are often used in this art style.
40	* Creator/DreamworksAnimation also started using similar character designs with ''WesternAnimation/TheBadGuys2022'', which uses 3D animation but with many 2D elements, such as the characters' eyes and teeth, and a lot of action lines around the characters.
41	* Similarly to the above, Creator/SonyPicturesAnimation's ''WesternAnimation/TheMitchellsVsTheMachines'' translates this into 3D with the more stylized designs and large round eyes.
42	* The direct-to-video ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'' movie ''WesternAnimation/KingTweety'' re-imagines Sylvester and Tweety in this style.
43	* ''WesternAnimation/RonalTheBarbarian'' is 3D but has the style, with many characters having round heads, thin limbs and bean-like mouths.
44	* ''WesternAnimation/WeLostOurHuman'' uses the version of this animation style commonly associated with European animated TV series, including Euro-American co-productions, such as ''WesternAnimation/TheAmazingWorldOfGumball'' and ''WesternAnimation/PinkyMalinky''.
45	[[/folder]]
46
47	[[folder:Video Games]]
48	* ''VideoGame/BrawlStars''
49	[[/folder]]
50
51	[[folder:VisualNovels]]
52	* The cutscenes for ''VisualNovel/MarcoAndTheGalaxyDragon'' are animated in this style, with the usual simplified designs, bright colors, and fluid motion. This is in stark contrast to [[ArtShift the rest of the visual novel]], which uses a more detailed and proportional anime-style typical of visual novels.
53	[[/folder]]
54
55	[[folder:Web Animation]]
56	* ''WebAnimation/BeeAndPuppycat'' crosses this with {{Animesque}}.
57	* ''WebAnimation/BravestWarriors'': The show was created by ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'' creator Creator/PendletonWard, and shares the same art-style.
58	* ''WebAnimation/CampCamp''
59	* ''WebAnimation/CartoonMania'' used this technique until the episode "Whatever Happened to Victor Virus?" which have slightly thicker lines than the previous episodes.
60	* ''Platform/GoAnimate'': The most well-known theme, Comedy World, fits this style (looking like a Creator/SethMacFarlane cartoon).
61	* ''WebAnimation/MightyMagiswords'' has outlines somewhat thicker but the shapes that he made his designs are too round.
62	* ''WebAnimation/PoppyPlaytimeLogic'': The outlines are thicker than most examples, but the shapes and character designs fit the style.
63	* ''WebAnimation/SethMacfarlanesCavalcadeOfCartoonComedy''
64	* ''WebAnimation/SpookyMonth''
65	* Parodied in an episode of ''WebAnimation/SubloAndTangyMustard''. During the performance evaluation the duo are told their costumes don't match the current models, which is based on this trope.
66	* ''WebAnimation/TrickMoon''
67	[[/folder]]
68
69
70	[[folder:WesternAnimation]]
71	* ''WesternAnimation/FiftyFiftyHeroes''
72	* ''WesternAnimation/The7D''
73	* ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'': Probably the one that [[FollowTheLeader singlehandedly popularized]] the modern trend in animation.
74	* ''WesternAnimation/TheAmazingWorldOfGumball'': [[MediumBlending Certain characters]], such as the Watterson and Fitzgerald families, are drawn in a rounded style. [[ArtEvolution The change in art style between the first two seasons]] made several character designs more round and less rectangular (particularly with the Wattersons), though it also made the outlines [[ThickLineAnimation thicker]].
75	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Amphibia}}''
76	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Apple and Onion}}''
77	* ''WesternAnimation/AtomicPuppet'': Although the outlines are thicker than most examples, the shapes and designs are thin-line.
78	* ''WesternAnimation/BaDaBean'': The outlines are thicker than most examples, but the shapes and design philosophies of the characters are Thin-Line
79	* ''Animation/BabySharksBigShow''
80	* ''WesternAnimation/BeCoolScoobyDoo''
81	* ''WesternAnimation/BeingIan'': Although this series predates when the style became popular, it bears many of its hallmarks, such as simplistic, rounded shapes and noodly limbs.
82	* ''WesternAnimation/Ben102016''
83	* ''WesternAnimation/BestAndBester''
84	* ''WesternAnimation/BestBugsForever''
85	* ''WesternAnimation/BigBlue'': While the outlines are quite thick, the artstyle is still very rounded and simplistic.
86	* ''WesternAnimation/BigCityGreens''
87	* ''WesternAnimation/BillyDilleysSuperDuperSubterraneanSummer''
88	* ''WesternAnimation/BobsBurgers''
89	* ''WesternAnimation/BoyGirlDogCatMouseCheese''
90	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Breadwinners}}'': While it does have a rounded art-style, the outlines are more thickish.
91	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Brickleberry}}''
92	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Centaurworld}}'' uses this style for the residents of Centaurworld; notably, Horse and Rider's world [[ArtShift is instead depicted]] in a more detailed {{Animesque}} style.
93	* ''WesternAnimation/CentralPark''
94	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Chowder}}'' is considered a pioneer of the style, despite the characters having slightly rougher lines than the others on the list.
95	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Clarence}}'': The episode "Goldfish Follies" highlights this style's inherent similarity to the InkblotCartoonStyle.
96	* ''WesternAnimation/CoachMeIfYouCan''
97	* ''WesternAnimation/CounterfeitCat''
98	* ''WesternAnimation/CraigOfTheCreek''
99	* ''WesternAnimation/CupcakeAndDinoGeneralServices''
100	* ''WesternAnimation/TheCupheadShow''
101	* ''WesternAnimation/DeadEndParanormalPark''
102	* ''WesternAnimation/DudeThatsMyGhost''
103	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Duncanville}}''
104	* ''WesternAnimation/ElChavoAnimado'', especially in the later seasons.
105	* The works of Creator/SethMacFarlane (''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'', ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'', and ''WesternAnimation/TheClevelandShow'') use a less [[BuffySpeak noodle-y]] but still simplistic and rounded art-style.
106	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Fangbone}}'', although the books it was based on had a nearly identical artstyle.
107	* ''WesternAnimation/FishHooks''. In the fish designs, they have outlines thicker but with rounded shapes.
108	* ''WesternAnimation/TheFungies''
109	* ''WesternAnimation/FutureWorm''
110	* ''WesternAnimation/TheGhostAndMollyMcGee''
111	* ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'': The art-style is rounded, but compared to ''Breadwinners'' above, the outlines are more in between thin and thick.
112	* ''WesternAnimation/TheGreatNorth''
113	* ''WesternAnimation/HarveyBeaks''
114	* ''WesternAnimation/HarveyStreetKids'' crosses this style with the Creator/HarveyComics style.
115	* ''WesternAnimation/TheHeroicQuestOfTheValiantPrinceIvandoe''
116	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Hilda}}''
117	* ''WesternAnimation/HomeAdventuresWithTipAndOh''
118	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Hoops}}''
119	* ''WesternAnimation/InfinityTrain''
120	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Inside Job\|2021}}''
121	* ''WesternAnimation/ItsPony''
122	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Jellystone}}''
123	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Kiff}}''
124	* ''WesternAnimation/TheLoudHouse'' and its spin-off, ''WesternAnimation/TheCasagrandes''
125	* ''WesternAnimation/MaoMaoHeroesOfPureHeart''
126	* ''WesternAnimation/TheMarvelousMisadventuresOfFlapjack'': The show's staff, in fact, included Creator/AlexHirsch, Creator/PendletonWard, and others as storyboarders, who would all later do [[WesternAnimation/GravityFalls their own]] [[WesternAnimation/AdventureTime shows]]. While despite the art-style being round, the outlines seem somewhat thicker.
127	* ''WesternAnimation/TheMidnightGospel''
128	* ''WesternAnimation/MonsterLovingManiacs''
129	* ''WesternAnimation/NateIsLate''
130	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Oddballs}}''
131	* ''WesternAnimation/OggyAndTheCockroaches'' is a MimeAndMusicOnlyCartoon example.
132	* ''WesternAnimation/OKKOLetsBeHeroes''
133	* ''WesternAnimation/OlliesPack''
134	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Oswaldo}}''
135	* ''WesternAnimation/OverTheGardenWall''
136	* ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'' crosses this with {{Animesque}} similarly to ''WesternAnimation/BeeAndPuppyCat'' above.
137	* ''WesternAnimation/ParadisePD''
138	* ''WesternAnimation/PickleAndPeanut''
139	* ''WesternAnimation/PineconeAndPony''
140	* ''WesternAnimation/PinkyMalinky''
141	* ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls2016'' uses this style in sharp contrast to the [[WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls1998 original]]'s more angular thick-line art-style. Notably, the Girls in the original series had a NonStandardCharacterDesign that could be considered a prototypical version of this style.
142	* ''WesternAnimation/RegularShow'': This is more straight in [[ArtEvolution later seasons when the outlines became thinner]].
143	** ''WesternAnimation/CloseEnough'', also made by J. G. Quintel, uses a similar artstyle.
144	* ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty''
145	* ''WesternAnimation/RollingWithTheRonks''
146	* ''WesternAnimation/SanjayAndCraig'': Features character designer Jay Howell, who also worked for ''WesternAnimation/BobsBurgers''.
147	* ''WesternAnimation/SavingMe''
148	* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' is considered the UrExample of this style.
149	** ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' and ''WesternAnimation/{{Disenchantment}}'', both also from Creator/MattGroening, follow a similar artstyle.
150	* ''WesternAnimation/SmilingFriends''
151	* ''WesternAnimation/SolarOpposites''
152	* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' started using this style since Season 9.
153	** ''WesternAnimation/ThePatrickStarShow''
154	* ''WesternAnimation/StarTrekLowerDecks''
155	* ''WesternAnimation/StarVsTheForcesOfEvil'': The outlines started off thick but became relatively thinner following the [[ArtShift change in animation studios]] in the middle of the first season.
156	* ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'': Compared to some of the other shows listed here, the outlines for this particular show remain consistently thick, and the characters have fairly realistic proportions.
157	* ''WesternAnimation/TheStrangeChores''
158	* ''WesternAnimation/SummerCampIsland''
159	* ''WesternAnimation/SummerMemories''
160	* ''WesternAnimation/SuperWish''
161	* ''WesternAnimation/ThunderCatsRoar''
162	* ''WesternAnimation/TigNSeek''
163	* ''WesternAnimation/TrollsTheBeatGoesOn''
164	** ''WesternAnimation/TrollsTrollstopia''
165	* ''WesternAnimation/UncleGrandpa'': Again, rounded art-style but with relatively thick outlines.
166	* ''WesternAnimation/TheUnstoppableYellowYeti''
167	* ''WesternAnimation/VictorAndValentino''
168	* ''WesternAnimation/WanderOverYonder'': The art direction is generally rounded, but true to Creator/CraigMcCracken's SignatureStyle, [[ThickLineAnimation the outlines are pretty thick]].
169	* ''WesternAnimation/WeBareBears'': It's mostly with the FunnyAnimal characters. Humans have less noodle-y proportions.
170	** ''WesternAnimation/WeBabyBears''
171	* ''WesternAnimation/WelcomeToTheWayne''
172	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Wishfart}}''
173	* ''WesternAnimation/WorkItOutWombats''
174	* ''WesternAnimation/ZigAndSharko'' is an another MimeAndMusicOnlyCartoon example.
175	[[/folder]]

Context Main / ThinLineAnimation