Animated or Live-Action?

[LisaCharly]

There are also many horribly-animated animes too, though. It's just easier to say Western animation is lower quality because we haven't had any good Western animation cartoons in a while, possibly because there's less demand for them since most viewers seem to prefer anime. There are many beautifully animated cartoons and movies in the more Western style from the 80's and 90's.

Personally, I'd be a bit peeved if Animorphs was done in an anime style, just because anime is so ubiquitous and it really does nothing for me. And I'm a cranky part-Japanese girl who gets tired of white people acting like anime is the be all and end all of Japanese culture and that Japan is nothing but a consumerist funland for manga lovers. Not saying anyone here does that, but it's a big problem I have with anime fans as a general community and I wouldn't want to see that problem import itself into beloved Animorphs. Just my opinion.

I'd say animated would be most feasible, though, since even with modern CGI it would be difficult to simulate realistic animals on a budget.

[Chad32]

I just had a thought. I'd really rather not have any of the male characters be bishonen. Like how typically anime makes the guys look rather effeminate because most Japanese think androgynous guys are hotter than beefy guys. except Ax's Human morph, but only because it's a mix between two guys and two girls. It makes sense for him to look like a girly guy.

[crystalclear]

^That too pretty guys turn me off. Manly men ftw

[Chad32]

I really hate seeing men that could be mistaken for women, especially easily mistaken.

That's one of the big differences in our culture. In Japan a beefy guy is likely to be gay, while fangirls sqee over all those men that could pass as women if they wanted to.

[SuperBlue]

A little too cartoony(I think Rachel and Jake look REALLY good though) but this is almost what I"m talkin bout when I say Animorphs with an anime-ish artstyle is doable


This one is nice too

[ThinkAgain]

While it would be absurdly difficult to make into something with a reasonable framerate, I really like realistic-styled animation, like this:


Still, CGI is viable - probably not on a budget though.

That tiger is completely CGI.

[Dameg]

While it would be absurdly difficult to make into something with a reasonable framerate, I really like realistic-styled animation, like this:

Awesome! I never saw this pic before, but I love it!

For the live-action, I'd also prefer something with CG for the animals and the airships. But it's true, it's expensive... The animation would be less expensive, so has more chances to be made.

[Gyt Kaliba]

There are also many horribly-animated animes too, though. It's just easier to say Western animation is lower quality because we haven't had any good Western animation cartoons in a while, possibly because there's less demand for them since most viewers seem to prefer anime. There are many beautifully animated cartoons and movies in the more Western style from the 80's and 90's.

I agree, I'm not trying to throw Western animation under the train so-to-speak - sorry if it came off that way. It just seems to be the standard that most US cartoons don't get the care needed to craft a good story, much less good animation, nowadays. I can think of lots of them from the past though, like TMNT, Sonic SatAM, Ghostbusters, etc.; and I see hope nowadays too, in shows like Ben 10, Avatar (though I've not seen much of it), and even in more humor based shows like Futurama.

Not to mention the awesome win so-far that is Scooby Doo: Mystery Inc.! (And now that I've proven I'm a complete animation nerd...)

Personally, I'd be a bit peeved if Animorphs was done in an anime style, just because anime is so ubiquitous and it really does nothing for me. And I'm a cranky part-Japanese girl who gets tired of white people acting like anime is the be all and end all of Japanese culture and that Japan is nothing but a consumerist funland for manga lovers. Not saying anyone here does that, but it's a big problem I have with anime fans as a general community and I wouldn't want to see that problem import itself into beloved Animorphs. Just my opinion.

I know the kind, haha. No worries, I may be a huge fan of anime and manga, and other Japanese stuff (like Godzilla), but to say that's all Japan is about is like saying all America is about is like...Star Wars, Star Trek, and fast food.

Still, CGI is viable - probably not on a budget though.

That tiger is completely CGI.

Argh...That's why I wouldn't want CG unless it was mind-blowing CG, but not so far that it looks...I dunno, it's hard for me to explain. The only example I can give is that I was not a fan of Avatar's CG. Yes, it looked AMAZING - but when it was up next to a real person, it looked too artificial, it wasn't seamless to me. I'm very picky when it comes to CG. ^_^;

(Multi-editing posts is harder than it used to be for me...must be the old age kicking in!)

[Enki]

While it would be absurdly difficult to make into something with a reasonable framerate, I really like realistic-styled animation, like this:

Wow, I like that a lot, and I don't see how it would be any harder to animate than any other style, really. It's not that much more complex than usual. It has some anime influence, but it's definitely in a style I think a lot of people could agree with. I wonder if that artist drew any of the alien species as well?

That tiger is completely CGI.

I was always under the impression that CGI is actually cheaper in a lot of cases?

There is some pretty decent cg being used in "budget" movies, like Iron Sky, which is being made entirely on donations:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeAfoiN5SDw[/youtube]

[Dameg]

Yeah, when they have a good budget, the CGI is usually awesome. But I'm afraid that, if they make something for Animorphs, they won't put a lot of money in... And then the CGI wouldn't be so good.

What do you think about this kind of animation?
Martin Mystery
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqiWgozoI_c&feature=PlayList&p=D83DF3E844F44FB4&index=0&playnext=1[/youtube]
(It's a show I really like)
and
Totally Spies!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGQWXyx7Cvs&p=717DF066D500BFB4&playnext=1&index=2[/youtube]
I really like the style. It's almost a Japanese style, as you can see, but in fact they're Italian-French-Canadian! And it fits quite well to the dark stories and to the funny stories...

[crystalclear]

I was always under the impression that CGI is actually cheaper in a lot of cases?

Depends on what you're comparing it with. Traditional animation is a lot cheaper than CGI, but if you compare it to live action movies with directors, actors, crews and others, of course it's pretty much cheaper A CGI movie only really needs some animators, voice actors, and some really good computers.

[wildweathel]

Can we please, please make our characters the right age this time?  And actually give morphing some screentime?  And treat it like the serious scifi/horror drama that it is?

I care more about those structural things than the medium.

Though, if I had a choice, Studio Bones, directed by Seiji Mizushima (first FMA anime), written by Chiaki J Konaka (Digimon Tamers, Bubblegum Crisis), art direction by Junichi Higashi (RahXephon, Cowboy Bebop)

Art style similar to RahXephon, except with western characters.  RX gets mad props for making the Japanese characters actually look Japanese as opposed to "big-head manga race."

Speaking of which, I just got some new books which very nicely illustrate the different head/body proportions of anime and manga.

From left to right
Fullmetal Alchemist, Roy Mustang: realistic, ~33% head to shoulders

Dennou Coil, "Yasako" Okonogi Yuuko: standard deformed, head slightly smaller than shoulders, ~80%

Pocket Monsters Special, Blue: super deformed, ~150% (in background on cover, she's usually around ~110%)

[Chad32]

Having actual child actors is complicated, what with school time and the limited amount of time that it's legal to work children. That's why people tend to be over aged for their roles. I'm not really sure how to rectify that, except that it would take long for the stuff to come out and they'd have to use new people once in a while because of growing up. One more advantage to having the characters animated as well as everything else.

[SuperBlue]

While it would be absurdly difficult to make into something with a reasonable framerate, I really like realistic-styled animation, like this:

OMG I LOVE IT! They look a bit older than the Anis were in the beginning of the series but that is PERFECT

Yeah, when they have a good budget, the CGI is usually awesome. But I'm afraid that, if they make something for Animorphs, they won't put a lot of money in... And then the CGI wouldn't be so good.

What do you think about this kind of animation?
Martin Mystery
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqiWgozoI_c&feature=PlayList&p=D83DF3E844F44FB4&index=0&playnext=1[/youtube]
(It's a show I really like)
and
Totally Spies!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGQWXyx7Cvs&p=717DF066D500BFB4&playnext=1&index=2[/youtube]
I really like the style. It's almost a Japanese style, as you can see, but in fact they're Italian-French-Canadian! And it fits quite well to the dark stories and to the funny stories...

I don't really care for the style of both of the shows, and I'm not just saying that cuz I hate both shows with a passion, but the only thing the creator of those shows seem to be good at are drawing women and kids and even those look too cartoony

[Alex Oiknine]

Traditional animation is totally the way to go with so many made-up species, just in my opinion. CGI for Yeerks and Hork Bajir and Andalites and other species would just be too difficult and cheapened in the long run. Traditional animation would give it all more of a soul.

I leafed through the thread and Enki said Iron Giant style. Oh goodness, I agree, that'd be the way to go for such an animated sci-fi series as Animorphs :3 I'd love it!