Animation is an underrated art form. It isn’t considered to be high art like the fine arts and seen as more childish than its live action counterparts. Many people believe that making a children’s movie is easier than making a ‘deep’ live-action movie for adults. But animation is one of the most labor intensive art forms in the world. There are twenty four frames per second, which means for traditional animation, artists have to draw twenty four drawings to create one second of film. Computer generated animation, which dominates the industry these days, is a difficult traditional animation but isn’t as easily quantifiable. 3D animators have to spend hours programing the characters to move, create believable textures, and battle the hundred of glitches that goes along with programming.
Animated films take years to produce. The amount of work that goes into them shows the dedication of these artists have for their art. It is in no way easier to create an animated film, than a live action film. There are more serious animated films. And even those that are simple and childish doesn’t mean that they aren’t beautiful or meaningful. Disney movies are signature at the high bar of beauty. But they are thousands of others that are beautiful. And it’s not just the aesthetics of an animated movie, the story and characters can be groundbreaking and strong, connecting it to the live action counterparts.
The problem with animation is that it seems too childish to be seen as too childish to be counted among live action movies, and not beautiful enough to be counted among the fine arts. Instead, it’s somewhere stuck in limbo, unappreciated except by few. And although that has started to change in recent years, many people still don’t see animation as something that can break barriers, as something that is truly art. They simply see the amazing aesthetics of the films as the sole thing to appreciate.
Just because a movie is meant for children, that doesn't mean that it can't be deep and meaningful. Just look at such films as the Iron Giant with the emotional depth, Tangled and Treasure Planet deal with complicated parental relationships. Lilo and Stitch deals with both parental death and shows Nani struggling to care for Lilo all by herself or child protective services will take her away. Kids have more emotional maturity than adults give them credit for. Not to mention scary movies like Coraline that parents often find disturbing but kids love.
Not that the industry has been proving this point otherwise. To be fair, the Emoji Movie and Boss Baby aren't exactly high art. But just because of some bad mistakes, it doesn't erase the entire legacy of all the good the industry has created.
All in all, animators go almost completely unrecognized Knowing that hundreds of artists have spent years on one feature length film adds to the level of appreciation. But animation needs to not only be appreciated, but seen as more than for children. Animation is art, simply as that.
