Which animation style would you rather see in a D&D cartoon?

[Klaus]

DC Animated (Justice League/Batman/Superman)
DC Pseudo-Anime (Teen Titans)
Serious Anime (Records of Lodoss War)
Comic Anime (InuYasha)
Action Pseudo-Anime (Jackie Chan Adventures/The Batman)
Action Traditional (He-Man & The Masters of the Universe)
Simpsons (D'oh!)

Speak up!

 

[The Serge]

This is a good one, Klaus.

I'd go for any except the comic anime, the action traditional, and Simpsons (a joke, I presume).

The style isn't the issue so much as the flow of the movement. If you notice with the DC stuff, the art is extremely stylized, but the animation is often seamless and flows well. They look like they're really moving. However, I know that a lot of people aren't partial to that sort of thing. I would place almost anything from Tartavosky (I think that's the spelling), like Samauri Jack or Star Wars: The Clone Wars in this arena.

I steered away from action traditional primarily because it's been my experience that when there's an attempt to capture anatomical and physiological accuracy, the quality of the animation suffers and/or is inconsistent from episode to episode. This was the case with the original X-Men cartoon. If the standard was maintained, I could go for it.

Finally, I noticed that you didn't include Disney-style animation... Although one could argue that there are different styles within a larger group. If I had to pick, I'd go with the angular elements presented in Sleeping Beauty and, to a lesser degree, in The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Aladdin, or Pocohantas. I despised the direction Disney went with Hercules (particularly the story).

 

[Psychic Warrior]

Hmm - tough choice! I like most of the styles you have mentioned up there. For D&D though I really think the comic anime style of Inu Yasha would suit it best. Watching a lot of that style has made me realize that it is ideal to display both massive monsters, exciting battle scenes and human drama (see the Inu Yasha movie Affections Touching Across Time for gut wrenching human drama).

 

[Henry]

Whichever style DOESN'T have people with disproportionately bugging eyes, facial features that change proportions beyond human norms on human beings, people without special powers elongating their limbs, defying gravity by gesticulating limbs in mid-air, and having eyes the size of pie plates.

Also, make sure that in NO WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM, can the term "chibi" be attached to any character.

If it avoids those hurdles, I'd watch it. If it had any of those elements, I'd stay away like a plague carrier.

 

[The_Universe]

DC animated or action-traditional, out of the original choices.

However, I will say that the Disney-style exemplified by Sleeping Beauty/Aladdin (a little angular, but not completely stylized) would also be good.

I could also accept something in the Samurai Jack/Clone Wars style, though it's definitely a third choice. It pulls a great deal from anime in terms of action, but there's still less background-rushes-character-stands-still-and-screams kind of silliness that has made me loathe every piece of anime I have ever seen. That's not to say that there's no good anime out there...but I've never been able to get past that part of it.

 

[Umbran]

Finally, I noticed that you didn't include Disney-style animation... Although one could argue that there are different styles within a larger group.

Hm. Anyone here ever seen Gargoyles? Wonderful cartoon, and I think it has a brand of Disney-animation that would work quite well, seeing as it has already been used to represent fantasy characters and (IMHO) passed muster.

 

[Ranger REG]

Like SD Gundam.

Personally, if live-action is not an option, I prefer Final Fantasy CG animation.

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

Traditional animation. To be honest I like some anime but I don't like it unless it is serious without the faces getting all crazy when they get mad and stuff like that. And I don't associate anime with D&D. I'd probably skip it if it was an anime style.

 

[mmadsen]

From the list provided, I'd definitely choose DC Animated (Justice League/Batman/Superman) -- but I'd also vote for animation in the style of Samurai Jack, The Clone Wars, or Disney's Gargoyles.

 

[Richards]

How about South Park style?

Johnathan