Paperman and the Future of 2D Animation

Summary

The speaker discusses their admiration for Disney's legacy of artistry, particularly the expressive simplicity of hand-drawn animation. They explore the concept of integrating such drawings into modern CG animation, as seen in 'Paperman,' set in 1940s Manhattan. The narrative of 'Paperman' is inspired by fleeting connections made in the city, pondering the potential for fate to reunite people. The speaker emphasizes the importance of creating a rich, immersive world that feels tangible and aims to innovate within the realm of computer animation.

Takeaways

• 🎨 The speaker admires the expressive and emotional power of hand-drawn animation and its deep legacy at Disney.
• 🖌️ There's a desire to integrate hand-drawn animation with CG, allowing the drawings to move alongside the characters.
• 🌟 The speaker believes we are in a golden age of CG animation, but there's room for styles beyond photorealism.
• 📜 'Paperman' was envisioned as a black and white film set in Manhattan during the 1940s-1950s to capture the city's vibrant energy.
• 🚂 The idea for 'Paperman' was inspired by the fleeting connections made while commuting through Grand Central Station.
• 🌆 The setting of 'Paperman' was chosen to evoke a magical time in New York City's history.
• 🎭 The speaker wanted to create a rich, dimensional world for 'Paperman' that feels immersive and tangible.
• 👁️‍🗨️ John Lasseter's influence is noted for pushing the idea of creating a believable world that doesn't break the storytelling spell.
• 🎭 The goal is to achieve a stylized yet richly dimensional animation that feels fresh and new.

Q & A

What was the speaker's first impression of Disney?

The speaker's first impression of Disney was the prevalence of drawing everywhere, with a deep legacy of artistry being present in the final product on the screen.

Why does the speaker admire the hand of the artist?

The speaker admires the hand of the artist because it can express great emotion with simplicity and is very expressive.

What was the speaker's reaction to the pre-production drawings for 'Paperman'?

The speaker was impressed by the phenomenal drawings of all the characters for 'Paperman' and questioned why these drawings couldn't be animated on top of the CG.

How does the speaker feel about the current state of CG animation?

The speaker believes we are in a golden age of CG animation, with an explosion of content and expressive, alive characters, but also thinks there should be other ways for animation to look beyond stylized photorealism.

Why did the speaker choose black and white for 'Paperman'?

The speaker chose black and white for 'Paperman' to capture the essence of Manhattan around the 1940-1950 period, which they felt was a magical time.

What inspired the idea for 'Paperman'?

The idea for 'Paperman' was inspired by the speaker's experiences commuting through Grand Central Station in New York City and the fleeting connections made with strangers.

What was the speaker's vision for the world of 'Paperman'?

The speaker wanted 'Paperman' to be a rich, dimensional world that felt immersive and not flat, aiming to maintain the storytelling spell and keep the audience immersed.

Who is John Lasseter and what does he advocate for in animation?

John Lasseter is a prominent figure in animation who advocates for creating a world that the audience can trust and feel immersed in, without breaking the storytelling spell.

What is the speaker's view on the potential of bringing drawings back into animation?

The speaker sees great potential in bringing drawings back into animation, believing it could add a fresh and new dimension to the medium.

What was the speaker's intention with the tonal scale and dimensionality in 'Paperman'?

The speaker intended for 'Paperman' to have a rich tonal scale and dimensionality to create a world that felt tangible and real, offering a new and fresh experience.