Over the past 10 years or so, children’s movies have taken a rather upsetting downturn. The days of classic 2D movies seem to have come to an abrupt end and quantity has replaced quality.
This is not to say that all computer-animated films are entirely without merit. Movies that opened the door to the 3D world (such as “Toy Story” and “Finding Nemo”) have earned their places in the heart of the great multitude. But what makes these and most 2D films worthy of such recognition? The two solutions I offer are simple: plot and music. Allow me to elaborate.
Unlike the dime-a-dozen computer animated films that have been plaguing theaters as of late, the early films had a storyline that mattered. There were intricacies between the characters, and a wider variety of personalities to interact with. Plots contained more subplots and morals. Of course, being they were intended for a younger audience, they cannot be considered to be brimming with the aforementioned qualities. However, they most certainly demonstrated them, where more recent films are sorely lacking.
The other formidable detriment is the lack of a customized score. In a pathetic attempt to “connect” with the audience, recent films have relied heavily, if not entirely, on popular music. Since this music is not made specifically for the film, how can it hope to be as effective as a score written to invoke emotions specific to the scene? Who can forget the powerful, awe-inspiring music accompanying Mufasa’s celestial visit with Simba in “The Lion King”? I challenge the reader to select a song from pop culture that could compare.
Yet a spark of hope remains for those who value the 2D movies of yesteryear. Disnet has announced that a new princess story is underway and scheduled for release in 2009. This new movies, "The Frog Princess", will be Disney's first traditionally animated film since "Home on the Range" back in 2004 (excluding sequels.) While there is not yet information enough to draw any solid conclusions from, the teaser looks promising. Will Disney pull the industry standard back where it belongs: creating quality films for the next generation?
