Batman: Gotham Knight

[Devastator]

LINK (http://www.superherohype.com/news/topnews.php?id=6798)

:cool:

[uraydo]

I like anime as much as the next dork, but I just threw up a little. :(

[The Great]

I like anime as much as the next dork, but I just threw up a little. :(
i have to agree I didnt like the style

[Devastator]

At first I thought that too but it takes Batman's look in another direction so I'm up for it.

[uraydo]

It's not the look. It's just more prof that art and storytelling are dieing in America. Mangas are the number 1 selling comics in America and Anima is just as popular. It's a wonder if someone like me will be able to find work. :(

In related news, my friend just lost another graphic design job to people overseas.

[r-type]

There's one incarnation in there that I liked of Batman (can't say for sure which one but I think it's the one where Deadshot is the villain), but the rest were sub-par.

The one where they made him look like the Phantom of the Paradise with a very beak-like, and brow-less profile. Especially not feeling it.

As far as story goes though, they look promising.

@Urry:

So are you more disappointed about outsourcing (when there is talent to be mined locally) or that the talent pool here in the states is dwindling? Or that anime is taking over in general? (confused)

[uraydo]

There's one incarnation in there that I liked of Batman (can't say for sure which one but I think it's the one where Deadshot is the villain), but the rest were sub-par.

The one where they made him look like the Phantom of the Paradise with a very beak-like, and brow-less profile. Especially not feeling it.

As far as story goes though, they look promising.

@Urry:

So are you more disappointed about outsourcing (when there is talent to be mined locally) or that the talent pool here in the states is dwindling? Or that anime is taking over in general? (confused)

I'm disappointed that audience for American made sequential art and animation is so small. I am also saddened by the slow death of 2D animation in the states. I have nothing against media from Japan, but I can't understand how people see that and just ignore what is happening here.

We are only sold what we will buy.

[xXRavenXx]

I'm disappointed that audience for American made sequential art and animation is so small. I am also saddened by the slow death of 2D animation in the states. I have nothing against media from Japan, but I can't understand how people see that and just ignore what is happening here.

We are only sold what we will buy.

It's not just that, but more of it is that America is going more and more with the safe bets. No one is sticking their neck out they just go with the same thing done (for the most part the same way). Anime is different. Plus I really do gotta go back to what was said about the talent dwindeling in the states:

I can compare it to stage plays. Everyone wants to do something larger. Who wants to write a play when you can do a film? On the same track most people think the same thing about 2d art, and decide to go with cartooning, cgi, or other things in the film or TV medium. People wanna be famous. And Hollywood (as of late) has turned it's back on the little guy. Maybe that's why films like "Sunshine" and "Juno" are so well accepted. Even the AMAS wants to see something new. (but that's my take on it from a film angle rather than the 2d side).

[devonnewberry]

I'm a huge Batfan. I'll be checking it out

[raddimus]

I don't know this might be interesting.as far as a 2d medium goes,I like it still.personally I would like to see some american made/drawn cartoons,I am a rarity though,in the sense that I personally don't like anime or manga.I hate the big eyed guy look and as for story telling goes,I think todays youth are such ass kissers of what their friends like they say they like it till they do.I personally think american story telling is superior in quality.I think anime is basically a soap opera,that gets animated with a bunch of explosions for action.:D

[The Great]

The problem to me lies more with the fact that people don't push boundaries anymore and do the work out of passion. The single motivating factor behind most people now is money. No one is willing to be a starving artist anymore. Or they are willing to be that but, it's more out of a want to say that they went through it. What happens when you get people who aren't willing to fight for their artistic freedom even if it means defeat? You get a lot of people willing to compromise their art. The most respected artist are the ones who take risk. They often don't get credit or any recognition till some time passes. usually when the next generation grows into the work force. Quality work takes time and film along with any big money making business doesn't want to take the time. They want money fast. art isn't going to thrive in that environment a lot of times.

People want quality 2d animation from people in the states. one of the reason we don't get it is because companies spend large amounts of money on a product imitating japanese anime which eventually fails and leaves them with a bad taste in there mouth. You want the medium to succeed you need to practice one of the main things Bay practices which is budget restraint. You want to use the least amount of money possible to see more profit. You make a bunch of small movies that make big profit you will keep getting backing. You put all your eggs in one basket and the movie maybe a freaking masterpiece if it doesnt turn a profit it's over. I don't think American artist get that. These anime films dont cost much money or at least not as much as our films. However, americans have the mentality that if you put more money into something that automatically means it will turn out better. Take the fact that not many people thought youy could get a quality sci fi movie made for 25 mill. Cgi doesnt have to be perfect it just has to be believable and that doesnt always mean photo realistic. If it draws you into that world then it is a success.

All in all I think it's a mixture of things but, one of the main factors in the slow death of 2d and creativity to me is what is happening to people like Ury. you have someone who is possibly extremely creative who's attitude seems to becoming worse due to the things he sees in the industsry and things happening to people he knows. I think When people forget what they are in it for things like this happen. and it hurts the creative part of the process.

to sum it all up don't think about success but rather the vision
hope i made sense

[Z28 Autobot]

It's not the look. It's just more prof that art and storytelling are dieing in America. Mangas are the number 1 selling comics in America and Anima is just as popular. It's a wonder if someone like me will be able to find work. :(

In related news, my friend just lost another graphic design job to people overseas.

Mangas are the top selling comic in the U.S.? Not by a longshot. Unless you have some proof other than what Diamond Distributors says...note sure on it but from what I have seen its all Marvel and DC.

American Animation has gotten lazy. Look at CN's original stuff its very two dimensional and blocky..and boring. Samurai Jack, Dexter and so on. Its just no effort.
Anime like stated has that vibe that really tells a story.
The last Batman cartoon and JL were good and all but again. its simple at best.
This looks like Animatrix-batman. and might be as cool as that was.
Im going to stop right there since alot of you have voiced exactly what I would of said so no point.

[Devastator]

Yea I agree, no one wants to put the work into 2d animation anymore. Anime is a short cut and its style of how its made is being used in about all cartoons these days. Its either done automatically by a computer with programs like Flash or AnimeStudio where its similar to the 3d programs instead of using something like Flipbook, a traditional frame by frame.

[uraydo]

Mangas are the top selling comic in the U.S.? Not by a longshot. Unless you have some proof other than what Diamond Distributors says...note sure on it but from what I have seen its all Marvel and DC.

American Animation has gotten lazy. Look at CN's original stuff its very two dimensional and blocky..and boring. Samurai Jack, Dexter and so on. Its just no effort.
Anime like stated has that vibe that really tells a story.
The last Batman cartoon and JL were good and all but again. its simple at best.
This looks like Animatrix-batman. and might be as cool as that was.
Im going to stop right there since alot of you have voiced exactly what I would of said so no point.
Not the prof I was looking for, but it will do for now. I'll try to ask my teacher (the one who told me about manga sales being better) where he gets his info from.

http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6419034.html


...There were about 2,800 book format comics published in 2006, up 12% from 2005. Out of that total, 1,200 are manga titles and 965 are American genre comics. Manga sales continue to sell very well and represented about $170 million-$200 million of total sales. Griepp reported that general bookstores sell the most graphic novels and continue to show the fastest growth. General bookstores were responsible for about $220 million in sales and the comics shop market reported about $110 million in sales. Manga growth did slow a bit, and Griepp blamed the Musicland bankruptcy for contributing to the slowdown...

For more prof, go to a bookstore and compare the manga to U.S. titles in the graphic noval section.

And don't underestimate the raw power of Tokyo Pop.... those evil evil sons of bitches.