The state and future of animation

[Ben]

We're all (well, most of us) little more positive and optimistic here.

[Randall]

Cartoon Brew takes its lead from its operator, and Amid is a pretty dour fella, or at least he comes off that way online. And like social media, their comments section attracts more pessimists than optimists, who can't be bothered wading into the dirty water.

[droosan]

I met Amid Amidi a few times when I was in ASIFA Hollywood, at various screenings, back when; he's definitely not as 'abrasive' in person as he often seems to be, online.

I love Amid's animation history books (especially Cartoon Modern) .. and I still have all the issues of his late-90s Animation Blast! fanzine, which preceded the founding of Cartoon Brew. He very definitely knows his stuff.

I was a daily reader of Cartoon Brew for many years, and participated in their comments section, on occasion .. but, yes; I noticed that I was often among the very few positive voices there.

After CB co-founder Jerry Beck split off to form Animation Scoop (and to resurrect his excellent Cartoon Research blog), I continued to read Cartoon Brew daily. Then, after awhile, it became once or twice per week .. then once or twice per month .. and now, I'm not sure how long its been since I last visited. And I'll admit: that's mostly because of the constant 'doom & gloom' projected both in the CB reader comments, and Amid's own biased commentary.

I'd stopped participating at the Animation Nation forum -- where I once was very active -- for much the same reasons.

Meanwhile, I still visit Cartoon Research and Animated Views on a daily basis .. where -- as Ben put it -- most of the participants in conversation seem to have a more 'positive' outlook on animation, in general.

[Ben]

[Daniel]

Pretty sure Animation Nation forums have closed down. Tried visiting not so long ago and found no traces. The main hub site still exist, as do their social media. It's not the same, though. I would visit every so often for fun and would look forward to seeing a Droo post and a few others who use to post here regularly, like Christian. Always sad to see a forum or site close up shop.

[Ben]

Don’t jinx us!

[Farerb]

I wouldn't be sad if animation died to be honest.

[Ben]

Wow.

Well, thankfully that’s never going to happen.

[GeffreyDrogon]

Even though there are many debates about which of the times in history produced better animation (20th century vs. 21st century), but when technology pushed the production curve for animation further outwards, why is non-Disney animation more successful nowadays despite a significant drop in quality? For example, why are things like Alpha and Omega, The Emoji Movie, and all those cookie cutter, low-quality live-action-animation hybrids so successful despite not being great movies like The Prince of Egypt, Balto, and Princess Mononoke?

[Ben]

Because audiences and, by extension, the human race, have become so dumbed down and homogenised that mediocrity is too often accepted and, worse, celebrated.

[GeffreyDrogon]

How is mediocrity "celebrated"?

[Ben]

Avatar. $3bn.

[GeffreyDrogon]

I've never seen Avatar.

[ShyViolet]

Because audiences and, by extension, the human race, have become so dumbed down and homogenised that mediocrity is too often accepted and, worse, celebrated.

This.

[GeffreyDrogon]

I can easily relate to why Balto got a fandom, but I was one of those many duped into falling for a mediocre animated film called Alpha and Omega. I feel sorry that many in that fandom are underserved, yet in need of watching something different (and better).