Food for Thought: Rise of Dreamworks Animation

Hey guys, in lieu of a Weekend Webcomic Review (Cause uhhh Easter is upon us; which means I am needed in the kitchen in a little bit *Sob*) here  is a quick bite of some Food for Thought!

Now while there are the “big names” in the animation industry — I’m thinking of companies along the lines of Disney Animation Studios, Pixar, Studio Ghibli and the like — that are known for their high quality work, we also have our other animation studios that more or less try to compete with the creme de la creme.  The biggest one that comes to mind is Dreamworks, known for its uh… let’s call them “joke” films, the type of films that have many sequel, especially if they become popular enough for the Dreamworks circle to try and milk for all its worth. I mean, why else are there numerous Shreks and Madagascars? Not to say that those films are bad, but over the years Dreamworks has gained the reputation for churning out films that are not necessarily blockbuster hits…

But in the wake of countless Shrek sequels, Dreamworks has produced some quality, artistic films, such as How to Train Your Dragon that hit it big  a few years back. This winter Dreamworks is aiming to hit it big again, following in this year’s trend of re-imagining classic fairy tales (Into hip and dark and edgy stories) with their up-coming film: Rise of the Guardians.

So what can we expect from the film that takes Santa Claus and transforms him into a tattoo’ed, double-cutlass wielding badass? Well give the trailer a peek and see for yourselves:

Dreamworks is pulling out all the stops to bring these ‘souped up fairy tale “guardians” a new look; just take a look at the way the pudgy little Sandman moves so fluidly and how the grains and pools and eddies of sand really comes alive. Many of the designs–well-crafted, whimsical, and colorful yet ultimately battle ready– are based on author, illustrator, and film-maker William Joyce who not only is the brilliant mind behind the Guardians of Childhood series (Which this film is based on), but also such memorable films as Meet the Robinsons and, if you remember the old Disney channel, Rollie Pollie Ollie.

So yes, there is a bit of a change from Joyce’s whimsical novels to this let’s-make-childhood-characters-gritty-edgy-dark that’s been so prevalent in Hollywood as of late, but that’s not to say that the change is bad.  Dreamworks still isn’t a Pixar, but it is doing its best to break out in the animation industry as something beyond their sequel-making-habits — and films such as How to Train Your Dragon and now Rise of the Guardians are good steps in the ‘right’ direction.

Also if you’d like to see more of Joyce’s work and his fluid story-telling skills (And his artistic style) check out this short film, The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore — which is just a taste of how the direction of Rise of the Guardians may take a surprising (but good) turn for what Dreamworks usually churns out:

Fenrir

A would-be anthropologist, writer, food historian, and professional glutton hoping to combine fandom with her love of food. Ever wondered what a nug tasted like? Is butterbeer alcoholic? If you've asked such questions and are already drooling at the thought of a big old plate of lembas bread, then you're in the right place

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