The Anime Industry is More Relevant than Ever Because of Bad Live Action Adaptations
anime is a 2D format of animation that has a unique place in the Japanese industry. Japan is known for its contributions to animation, even though they have produced groundbreaking live-action films like 2023 Oscar winner Godzilla Minus 1. Anime has dominated the international market with projects like One Piece, Neon Genesis Evangelion and Chainsaw Man. In addition to the engaging voice-acting and fantastic storytelling, anime proves that 2D animation appeals not just to children but is also suitable for all generations.
Walt Disney Pictures has been one of the world's most renowned media corporations for decades. The company, once renowned for their incomparable fantasy films that appealed to both children and adults, has changed its direction. Disney's live action movies that are adapted from its beloved animated classics often lack depth, and serve to grab money off of younger audiences.
Disney, for example, continues to alter classic films' styles until the classical film is almost unrecognizable. Disney fans have been calling for the revival of the 2D style animation that was seen last in The Princess and the Frog. Studios have not yet delivered, but anime remains relevant.
Japan's Colossal Contributions in 2D Animation
The cosplay and convention communities, as well as fan fiction, have grown tremendously in recent years. This growth has been steady since the beginning of the 2000s. With the advent of lockdown protocol in 2020, anime attracted a whole new group of enthusiasts who began to explore the many stories that the medium has to offer. The anime community is now global. The largest U.S. anime convention, the Anime Exposition in Los Angeles in 2023, had astronomical attendance numbers: more than 392,000 attendees from over 60 countries.
Detective Conan and Sailor Moon appeal to young audiences through their bright colors and fun messages. Attack on Titan and Berserkboth have adult themes and complex plots, such as violence and bloodshed. Anime has proven that 2D animations do not target children.
Disney's 7 Eras: From Golden Age Animations and Live-Action Films
Tangled was released in 2010, and while most Disney films had been 2D animation for the first 75 years of its existence, this changed with Tangled. Disney has had many 3D animated hits, including Bolt and Meet the Robinsons. But none of them matched the success of Disney's Rapunzel adaptation. Disney Pixar developed animation techniques that made their 3D movies appear "lifelike".
For instance, during production of The IncrediblesPixar animators weren't sure if the technology required to animate Violet’s hair existed. It was achieved through a complex series of steps. Since Moana and Frozen, the standard for realistic looks has risen.
The desire to create "realistic environments" led to the creation of live-action adaptations. Initially, the adaptions were successful. The Cinderella Story (2015)stayed true to the story and maintained the beauty and wonder of the classic tale. The Lion King (1999), on the other hand, is a remake shot-for-shot of the original, and has CGI renderings which are cold and unimaginative. Disney’s forthcoming film Snow White (2025), has faced backlash following news that significant changes were made to the beloved tale.
Disney should follow in the footsteps of anime
Ever since the Princess and the Frog, very few 2D Disney films were released. In its place, live-action versions of classic tales (and some video games as well) are produced. Fallout, a recent Amazon Prime series, is a good example. However, the majority of these are insincere cash grabs that try to capitalize on well-known stories. Disney's animated films have the same feel as their live-action counterparts, but lack that magic of 2D. Snow White is a good example of a remake that pays little respect to the original story.
2D animation is stigmatized by many fans. They have often heard that animation is only for children. Some people think that anime is just a cartoon for children. This is far from being the case. Animation is not a style, but a medium for storytelling. Western movie companies would do well to follow Japan's example.
Disney has become so focused on bringing classic tales "to life," that it forgets why they are beloved in the first instance. They bring wonder and imagination to an audience of many generations, as well as a sense of childlike delight. Anime allows people with different interests to explore worlds outside their own. In an interview with Charlie Rose, John Lasseter replied to a question containing the word "realistic":
While live-action movies are beautiful, only 2D anime can provide the special components that 2D animation is capable of. It is important to capture relatable real-life issues, but audiences watch their favourite films and shows in order to escape from reality. anime offers viewers the best of two worlds - real issues in an animated 2D universe.
It is possible to change the color palette of 2D animations in order to make them more like what audiences would see on a daily basis. This issue seems to affect not just 2D animated series, but also live-action adaptions, as the Wickedfilm received criticism for its dulled color palette. anime has proven to be relevant and more popular than ever, even as film studios produce live-action versions that are soulless, or ignore their original sources.
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