Now that most American animation studios have decided to give up handmade animation and skip to computer animation, let’s take a closer look at the computer drawn animation. It made me realize that just CGI (Computer Generated Imagery) is not a bad development per se. If it is done properly. In this article a closer look on some CGI-made movies, both animated movies and real life animation.

Toy Story (1995)

This is sort of where it all began. Toy Story was the very first full time animated film and it is already a classic, despite the fact it is not even ten years old. This movie was an instant success and its sequel, Toy Story 2 (1999) was even considered to be better than the original. A rare thing in movie land. This was also the first collaboration between Disney and Pixar. Disney is currently working solo on part 3. I wonder if that will work’

Dinosaur (2000)

Disney’s very first solo attempt to make a computer animated film. Rather disappointing. It combines traditionally shot (nature) background with pixeled dinos. The story is a mess, the characters look too realistic but have the ability to speak, which kinda gives a weird effect. I prefer the BBC series Walking With Dinosaurs, that had a similar concept but was more documentary like.

Shrek (2001)

Maybe not that well animated, compared to the Disney/Pixar productions, Shrek was a huge success. It has an un-Disney sense of humor, annoying unsympathetic characters and messes around with about every fairytale you can possibly imagine. A sequel is planned for release a few months from now and a third Shrek is already in production. The sequel stars new voices by Julie Andrews, John Cleese, Antonio Banderas and Jennifer Saunders.

Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (2001)

Based on a well know computer game, Final Fantasy had a potency to become a huge hit. It was the first movie that had a realistic look, but was completely CGI made. Although some effects were amazing, this one kinda flopped. The humans were already better animated in The Animatrix, in the very first sequence called The Flight of the Osiris, which is very much fun to watch. Still humans in CGI look sort of fake.

Ice Age (2002)

First computer animated movie by Twentieth Century Fox. The makers intended a specific style of animation, but to me it didn’t work. Bad story and annoying characters (in contrary to Shrek unintended). This movie just didn’t do much for me and I was kind of disappointed by it. I heard a sequel is on the way but I doubt if this is a good thing.

Finding Nemo (2003)

Pixar’s absolute master piece. Animated movies almost can’t get any better. The very first time a group of animators succeeded in making water look realistic. And water is everywhere in this movie: splashing, dripping and flowing. It also has an amazing animation of light in every possible way. And as a cherry on top: amazing voice cast also, with a stand-out performance by Ellen Degerenes.

FUTURE PRODUCTIONS

There is still a lot to come the next couple of years. A quick look:

Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004)

Starring Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jude Law, this production that hits theaters this summer may not be completely suitable for this article, if it wasn’t for the fact it had manlike actors with all CGI backgrounds. The entire movie was shot in front of blue screens.

The Incredibles (2004)

Pixar’s next collaboration with Disney. A superhero family has to save the world from perish. After experimenting with difficult to tackle subjects like hair and skin (Monsters Inc.) and water (Finding Nemo), this one is the first Pixar movie starring humans. I am personally very much looking forward to this one. The trailer that can be found online is very funny…

Shark Tale (2004)

Dreamworks’ attempt to achieve the success of Finding Nemo. An impressive voice cast, including Martin Scorsese, Angelina Jolie, Will Smith and Robert DeNiro. Godfather starring sharks. Dreamworks unintentionally tried to copy Pixar before with Antz (compared to Pixar’s A Bug’s Life that was released the same year). The animation to me looks a bit crappy, but it could be fun.

The Polar Express (2004)

Robert Zemeckis rejoins with Tom Hanks after Forrest Gump and Cast Away for this computer animated fairytale. The trailer looks kinda fake, like the director couldn’t choose between an animated and a real life look. We’ll see’

Chicken Little (2005)

Solo Disney project. Looks al kinda cute. Maybe a bit too cute.

Cars (2005)

The final collaboration between Disney and Pixar. Not much is known about it, except the voice cast including Owen Wilson, Bonnie Hunt and Paul Newman. A bunch of classic cars go on an adventure on route 66.

Robots (2005)

Not much is known about this production, starring the voices of Ewan McGregor and Halle Berry.

Madagascar (2005)

A Dreamworks production starring a bunch of zoo animals who are released and go back to their natural habitat.

A Scanner Darkly (???)

Based on a novel by Philip K. Dick (Total Recall, Minority Report, Paycheck), starring Keanu Reeves. This movie will be shot and then reanimated by computer.

A DASH OF CGI

Check out the following movies for CGI-characters among a human cast:

Star Wars ‘ Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)
Lots of CGI characters, with the annoying Jar Jar Binks as the most prominent one.

Scooby-Doo (2002)
The well-known Danish Dog consisting of pixels. Kind of disappointing.

Star Wars ‘ Episode II: The Attack of the Clones (1999)
Thank God less Jar Jar Binks. This time Yoda was completely CGI, where he once was a puppet. Looks rather impressive.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
Dobby the House Elf is completely made out of pixels. Quite realistic especially the clothes he is wearing.

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
Debut of the best CGI character to date: Gollem. No introduction necessary.

Garfield: The Movie (2004)
The overly fat cat in his very first movie, coming this year.

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