thoughts of UY movie

[ctanner]

Whenever I think about a UY movie, I always envision it to have a live background and props(horses, birds, etc), with CGI characters (similar to Golum in LOTR). That way there would be rich settings and such. I always think of a big field with the wind blowing the grass.

The biggest downfall in this tho, would be a loss of Mr. Sakai's art.

ps - I'm new to the forums and this subject may have been hashed over before, if so, I apologize.

[Shishio]

When I was at the last Anime North, I attended a panel led by Mr. Sakai, wherein he showed us some clips of Usagi Yojimbo animation. Mr. Sakai mentioned that he has received some proposals for series, but has declined because the samples he received did not live up to his expectations, which is unfortunate, because a UY animated series would be really cool.

And personally, I think a UY movie done in CG would be hideous. I realize the amazing capabilities of CG, but, great as it is, I just don't think it is suitable for rendering UY. But that is just my opinion. If it was done, I would go see it regardless, though.

Edit: Shortly after posting this, I found my pictures from Anime North, so if Mr. Sakai grants me permission, I would be willing to post some of them. They're not as clear as I would like them to be, but what can you do?

[Stan Sakai]

Edit: Shortly after posting this, I found my pictures from Anime North, so if Mr. Sakai grants me permission, I would be willing to post some of them. They're not as clear as I would like them to be, but what can you do?

Feel free to post them.

One thing about CGI is that it improves so quickly. When I was at the preview screening of Chronicle of Narnia, the director had said that the movie could not be been made as is even 5 years ago because the technology was not there. The CGI clip I showed was about 7 years old. CGI has improved a lot since then.[/i]

[Shishio]

One thing about CGI is that it improves so quickly. When I was at the preview screening of Chronicle of Narnia, the director had said that the movie could not be been made as is even 5 years ago because the technology was not there. The CGI clip I showed was about 7 years old. CGI has improved a lot since then.

I know. CGI is amazing, I won't deny it. Just look at the Final Fantasy movies, Spirits Within, and Advent Children. But to me, it's a matter of style, not quality. Since you have illustrated Usagi since its inception, I am used to seeing it rendered in your style. I therefore believe a Usagi movie, if one were to be made, would look best animated in the traditional style.

I know this will sound really stupid, doubly so since I am saying this to the creator of Usagi, but a UY movie, done in CGI, would not quite be Usagi in my opinion. If UY was rendered in CGI, the animators would most likely try to make it as realistic looking as possible, which I feel would actually detract from the series/movie/whatever. Your drawing style is one of the things that makes Usagi, Usagi. I mean, could you imagine a CGI or live action version of Calvin and Hobbes?

Anyway, that's just my opinion. As I said, I would still be happy to see a UY animated movie or series, even if it was done in CGI. And I would enjoy it as long as it wasn't bastardized beyond all recognition.

And here are some pictures:

Picture 1
Picture 2
Picture 3

[Steve Hubbell]

Thanks for sharing the pictures.

I am probably old fashion (part of getting old?), but I think Usagi would look best (and has already in the New TMNT episodes) in normal animation as opposed to CGI.

Abayo....

[Tim]

i agree with the old-fashioned ones. i would want to see an animation similar to stan's style. granted, i'd be happy to see usagi no matter what, but my preference would be a fantastically crafted (in the vein of miyazaki, chuck jones, etc.) to model the style we're all so familiar with.

kudos to stan, though, for keeping expectations high. i think we all know how much he loves the characters, and we love them just as much.

[ctanner]

I realize that a CGI movie would not be true to the art we are all love so much, but that is just the way I see that a UY movie would be best served to the masses. An anime movie/series would be geared mostly toward the 'converted' whereas a CGI big-budget movie would reach a much broader audience.
That being said however, I would not expect Mr. Sakai to allow a UY movie/series to be anything less than spectacular. I know many of 'us' would have very high expectations for a UY movie/series.

ps Thank You, Mr. Sakai for responding to my thread.

[ctanner]

Mr.Sakai, I notice that you did not weigh your thoughts towards or against a CGI UY movie/series. What are your opinions about CGi in general and specifically, towards a UY movie/series?
I really feel that a CGI UY movie could be done in a style we are all familar with. There certainly would be some liberties taken by the animators, but they should try to remain as true to Mr. Sakai's art as possible.

[Shishio]

I realize that a CGI movie would not be true to the art we are all love so much, but that is just the way I see that a UY movie would be best served to the masses. An anime movie/series would be geared mostly toward the 'converted' whereas a CGI big-budget movie would reach a much broader audience.

Not neccessarily. Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within, bombed at the Box Office, and Final Fantasy is, at least in North America, much more popular than Usagi.

[estee]

The voices would be hardest part, IMO.

They just have to be perfect. I mean, if we have Paris Hilton doing the voice of Tomoe I think I'll burn down the theatre.

[Ben]

Inserting anthropomorphic characters via CGI into a live-action environment (in this case, the natural beauty of Japan's countryside) would be an absolutely phenomenal feat. Unfortunately, as Stan pointed out, the technology isn't quite there yet...

[Fanfan]

The idea of a puppet movie, like Jim Henson could have done (Dark Crystal) would be a nice way to see it.
If i remember well Stan, you told me that you thought about it.

[Stan Sakai]

The idea of a puppet movie, like Jim Henson could have done (Dark Crystal) would be a nice way to see it.
If i remember well Stan, you told me that you thought about it.

Yes, we were in brief discussions with Henson Productions a few years ago (in fact, they first contacted me through the Dojo). That fell apart when the German corporation that owned Henson at the time had financial troubles and sold Henson (back to the Henson family).

I think puppets like Dark Crystal would have been neat. Especially when the talks included Lucas' Industrial Light & Magic doing the special effects.

I would not rule out CGI. Computer animation have come a long way, and is advancing daily.