Well animation news begets animation news... I have to say IRON GIANT is a blast script wise, but often times an animated film can lose magic going from script to sketches, then again from that to screen. Well it seems Brad Bird is doing it right, and as long as Warners doesn't do something stupid like they did with QUEST FOR CAMELOT where they jack around with the directors and animators... well this seems like it could be a fantastic film. Personally I'm dying to see the design for the characters. Hopefully I'll get something soon. Anyway, here's Oxberry...
I've been a fan of your site for quite some time, but it wasn't until I read your recent comments on Prince of Egypt (traditional animation rules!!!) that I decided to write. You see, I too am a huge fan of the old school of animation.
IRON GIANT!!!
This film is one of the best films I have seen in the past ten years! I'm not just talking about the genre of animated films either. As you probably know Brad Bird has total control of this film. Because of this fact, it is a film driven by one vision. There are only five main characters: Hogarth( the boy who finds the giant), Annie ( his mother), Dean McCoppin (the local beatnik) and Kent Masley ( government baddie). Because the cast is so small, you actually have time to get to know the characters. These characters are allowed to live and breathe. There isn't a lot of unneeded cutting either. Most of the sequences are long character relationship pieces. There are no musical numbers to break up the progression of the story. The humor in the film is very natural. Nothing is forced ( like an ill placed fart joke...man, am I sick of those). Brad Bird is a brilliant writer. The dialogue is extremely well written. Everyone talks like real people. The film also maintains the feel of the 50's. Everything from the dialogue to the political issues of the 50's are represented in this film.
Well, now that I've blathered on about the story, it's time to talk about the animation. Tony Fucile is the main sequence director. In this film Brad has decided to have sequence direction instead of lead character animators. Because of this, everyone gets to work on all the characters, which really helps to maintain the character relationships. This is exactly how the nine old men did it. Brad is very picky about the animation and you can see that in every frame of this film. The acting is amazing. Your not gonna see any of the crap you saw in Quest for Camelot ( most of those guys have been canned.). Everything is timed perfectly and the draftsmanship is incredible.
Another reason that the animation is looking so great is because everyone involved with the film is excited about the story. They aren't having to animate prat falls and double takes. They are bringing real characters to life. The animation of the giant is pretty sweet too. It actually moves like a traditionally animated character.
If all this weren't enough, I heard that Brad actually showed the film to Frank and Ollie. After the film was over, they told Brad that he was making the kind of film that they would make if they were still animating.
Well, I guess you can tell I am excited about this project. I wish I could give you more details about the story, but I hate spoilers. I really hope you post this, because this is a film that really deserves some attention.
Just refer to me as Oxberry.
P.S.
Danny Elfman is supposed to compose the score.
