The Lion Guard (2015 / 2016)

[gothprincesskiara]

I love all the observations you are making from that little 2 secend animation shot.

Speaking of animation, this might seem again a bit off topic but, can I just point something out when it comes to the latest passed Disney movies, I don't know about anyone else but I have noticed that Disney is starting to do less and less of 2D cartoon animation and more and more 3D animation from like Pixar and Rapunzel animation styles, I wonder if they turned off 2D for the movies and just now use 2D for the the shows, but they are going to make 2D for the Lion Guard movie so I just wonder what direction is Disney going with new updated animation style? (should I post this in a different threat cause im eager to talk about it)

[Sigurd]

Haven't Disney abandoned the 2D animation style a long time ago? I remember hearing (2003?, 2004?) that Home on the range was going Tobbe their last 2D Animated film. Then they made The princess and the frog but that was years later. And I don't think they've made any other 2D movie after HOTR, correct me if I'm wrong.

[TheLionPrince]

Haven't Disney abandoned the 2D animation style a long time ago? I remember hearing (2003?, 2004?) that Home on the range was going Tobbe their last 2D Animated film. Then they made The princess and the frog but that was years later. And I don't think they've made any other 2D movie after HOTR, correct me if I'm wrong.

Although Home on the Range was meant to be their last in-house 2D animated production, John Lasseter and Ed Catmull became the creative heads of Disney animation in 2006, and reverse the policy to allow for more theatrical 2D animated films like The Princess and the Frog and Winnie the Pooh (which is currently their last recent one). Back in 2013, Disney announced that they did not have any current plans to produce more 2D animated films, and then it was reported in animation blogs that Disney laid off at least nine veteran 2D animators. However, they still claim they haven't officially abandoned 2D animation:

Life at the studio hasn't been all Disneyland smiles — last month, as part of a wider restructuring at its corporate parent, the animation studio laid off fewer than 10 people out of a staff of more than 800. Because some were 2-D animators, there was speculation on some animation blogs that the studio was abandoning its commitment to that art form, an idea [Walt Disney Animation Studios general manager Andrew] Millstein dismissed.

So, to put it short, there aren't any theatrical 2D animated films currently in production, but they haven't dismissed using the process.

[gothprincesskiara]

But I really am a fan of the 2D style. It will be a big disappointment to see it go extinct with Disney its part of what made me a fan of animation in the first place I'm not sure if I warming up to the 3D upgrade, Im kinda getting tired of it, but I guess its the new way of movie making, and they may just bring it right back sooner or later I hope.

[SimbasGuard]

Why wouldn't it be computer animated? Even I have a Photoshop brush that replicates the 2D pencil from Disney movies, used in conjunction with a drawing tablet, it looks just like hand drawn traditional work.

Which is why hand drawn is an inaccurate term here because since acquiring a graphics tablet, all of my digital art has been hand drawn, as if on paper.

That is something I did not know. It is also very comforting, thanks Julie Skywalker

So, to put it short, there aren't any theatrical 2D animated films currently in production, but they haven't dismissed using the process.

I thought that was Disney's official stance on 2D. That's good to Know, thanks TheLionPrince

But I really am a fan of the 2D style. It will be a big disappointment to see it go extinct

I feel the same way, I love 3D animation like Ice Age and Alpha and Omega. However no movie with get as close to my heart as 2D animated films like Lion King and Balto. but as long as 2D animation is used for shows like The Lion Guard and Ultimate Spider-Man the art form will never truly go extinct. It may just be some time before we see a 2D animated film on the big screen.

[SlayerOfLight]

Seriously, I dont understand why 3D Disney movies are so overrated. Nine times out of ten all characters look like living dolls with big eyes. At least ONE good thing so far about TLG is the fact that they've decided to keep it 2D.

[Gemini]

One thing i noticed right away that i really love is that it has this very classic disney look to it. If this isn't hand drawn, it does a great job of replicating the hand drawn look.

I'd be shocked if this turns out to be computer animated. If it is then it proves that 2D can still live in a world of 3D animation.

Why wouldn't it be computer animated? Even I have a Photoshop brush that replicates the 2D pencil from Disney movies, used in conjunction with a drawing tablet, it looks just like hand drawn traditional work.

Which is why hand drawn is an inaccurate term here because since acquiring a graphics tablet, all of my digital art has been hand drawn, as if on paper.

Photoshop is still 2D. It's computerized, yes, but it only works on two dimensions, not three. I think what SimbasGuard was referring to wasn't whether or not it was "hand-drawn" but whether or not it was 2D or 3D. Most modern films are done in programs similar to Maya, ZBrush, or Blender, all of which are very different from either traditional drawing media or from programs like Photoshop. They are more akin to traditional sculpture or claymation, which is why modern animated films have such a different look than their predecessors.

I'm sure you knew at least some of that but I think that's what he was trying to say. That said, I'm sure this is computerized for at least most of the process (if not all of it), as most animated TV shows are now, but that doesn't mean it's not 2D animation.

[DGFone]

I wonder if they will use a combination technique of "Computerized" 2D with 3D made to look like traditional 2D?

What I am talknig about, you can see here in this production video of a rather good Russian animated movie. Ignoring the language barrier for you guys, you can see how many assets are in true 3D, but the final product looks like a 2D image: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fj1G-fjMVHE

So I wonder how much of the same process will be used for The Lion Guard. Have assets such as backgrounds and stuff be 2D canvases, but have characters and things be primarily 3D.

[Akril]

I wonder if they will use a combination technique of "Computerized" 2D with 3D made to look like traditional 2D?

What I am talknig about, you can see here in this production video of a rather good Russian animated movie. Ignoring the language barrier for you guys, you can see how many assets are in true 3D, but the final product looks like a 2D image: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fj1G-fjMVHE

The method used in that video is called cel shading. It can replicate 2D animation fairly well (and save a lot of time when you're animating a scene where a lot of things are moving at once), but sometimes it can look a bit stiff and unnatural. I think the stampeding wildebeest in TLK were actually animated using that same process.

[Elton John]

Disney got back james earl jones for star wars rebels, the newest animated star wars show. since mufasa is confirmed for tlg i wonder if they will bring him back here too.