As University of Connecticut students born in the early 2000s, we were fortunate to witness the pinnacle of animated movies and series during our childhood. The transition from 2D animation to 3D computer animation technology made movies by Pixar and Disney what made our childhood magical and contributed to our wild imaginations. Nothing could go wrong with high-quality animations with pure comedy and entertainment and some valuable life lessons to keep in mind through adulthood. However, why can’t we find the same excitement for new animated movies from the same legendary animation companies?
One reason could be that we are just simply not the target audience anymore. Animated movies were entertaining in the past because we were young and naive. The jokes and fun elements were to attract young children, not adults. You could argue that the movies we watched a decade ago are still entertaining for people of all ages, including dusty college students like ourselves. Nevertheless, we must remember that nostalgia plays a powerful role in glorifying our childhood pastimes. For instance, we might watch “Ratatouille” again and think it was the best animated movie to exist, but we might not feel the same way if we see the exact same movie for the first time today and think it is rather childish.
Another factor could be the lack of originality or innovation in many animated movies today. With familiar storylines and clichés, it’s often predictable who the helpers and traitors are in each film. Surprisingly, in the past, every plot twist felt truly shocking and provided a fresh experience. We’ve come to understand that animated movies for children often need to fulfill an educational purpose for parents and educators to approve them for family movie nights or classroom screenings. After all, ever since television became the major form of entertainment, many studies have shown children learning directly from screens via their favorite characters. Using movies for education makes learning engaging and helps with language development and expressing emotions effectively. Therefore, nothing about the movie can be too experimental or disturbing, making its narrative arc and resolution somewhat foreseeable.
Additionally, while we may not realize it now, much entertainment content adheres to specific trends throughout different eras. It is only natural to observe that the storylines of today’s animated movies are diving deeper into common issues surrounding the real world, which differs from many movies 10 years ago that primarily focused on themes of perseverance and pursuing dreams. While it is possible to criticize the current trends for being overly centered on addressing social issues like racism, sexism and representation, it’s important to acknowledge that this shift reflects the evolving societal consciousness and the desire for more inclusive narratives. If parents think the content today is too heavily focused on inclusivity and representation, it doesn’t hurt to show kids past content and encourage discussions on the different themes and morals portrayed throughout the history of animated movies.
Is it possible that animation companies are too lazy to brainstorm new storylines and have lowered the standards of making a well-made animated movie? The notion of quality degradation is unfounded, considering the significant advancements in 3D animation technology over the years, evidenced by the comparison between the first “Toy Story” movie and the latest one. This perception may have been fueled by Disney’s recent release, “Wish,” where the watercolor theme provoked strong reactions from Disney fans, leading some to mistakenly perceive it as poorly made. Whether other factors have contributed to the poor reputation of newly released animated movies remains a subject of debate among the public.
Perhaps if Disney and Pixar were to prioritize original content over sequels and remakes, there would be less controversy. However, the decision ultimately lies in the hands of both the general public and the companies themselves. After all, the animation industry is also a capitalist business as it will try to maximize profits and cater to the preferences of the majority of its target viewers. The more successful a certain movie is, the likelihood that the production studios will try to reach or surpass the success with similar content increases. One thing is certain: current animated movies will never replicate the feeling of ecstasy or nostalgia from pioneering picture animations of the 1960s or the experimental 3D animations of the 2000s. Keep that in mind when assessing or reviewing the animation films you see now.