Kung Fu Panda trailer

[Gaffey]

This looks promising.

http://www.imdb.com/video/trailer/me60318448

[Marchino]

jejejejje......... ......... ..pandas......

[Stan Sakai]

here's a site with character designs and interviews:


http://characterdesign.blogspot.com/

[Tinlantern]

I have always imagined Stan's art animated by Miyazaki, but whomever designed the Kung-Fu Pandas strikes an interesting nerve. Done correctly Usagi could be a really dramatic 3D character.

Stan, have you ever considered 3D?

I was against the medium for so long because I loved the watercolored backgrounds of the animated films I grew up with. The hand painted details and artistry is what I strive for in my own pieces.

I guess my problem is that 3D is in that stage where it is still considered "cartoonish" and there isn't a lot of full length dramatic or iconic characters that span the gap between adult and child. But I always love the pieces of concept art that turn up.

UPDATE:
HA HA! I just made a search for Miyazaki and CGI, it seem like this is a hot topic for discussion. I am late to the party as usual. Cheers!

[Jet_Jaguar]

I was against the medium for so long because I loved the watercolored backgrounds of the animated films I grew up with. The hand painted details and artistry is what I strive for in my own pieces.

In that case, you'll definitely want to see Miyazaki's next film, Ponyo on a Cliff, since the animation style is based on watercolors.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ponyo_on_a_Cliff

I also think that a UY movie made in the style of something like Mononoke Hime would be pretty cool. A 3-D CGI UY movie could potentially be good too, but personally, I'd like for it to be as analog as possible since I think that would be truer to the sensibility of the comic book. Then again, I'd also like for it to be a 3 1/2 hour epic with an intermission in the middle like The Seven Samurai, but I'm not holding my breath for that, especially since a high-quality hand-drawn 3 1/2 hour animated film would probably cost about a billion dollars to produce.

[Tinlantern]

Ha! Yes, I always think about which existing story would be a great Usagi film, or if a new plot would be a better choice with some cameos.

For existing stories, Dragonbellow and Jei would seem to be fan favorites, but I loved ZatoIno as well. He was always one of my favorite conflicted characters. Hmmm, for a new plot there would be so many characters people would want to see it would be so difficult!

Complicated.

But I agree, 3D doesn't seem like it would remain all that faithful to the feel of Usagi. Thanks for the ponyo link, I have been following that film!! I liekd his earlier stuff that was more concrete and less oddball. Nausicca, Castle, Mononoke, Lupin etc.

[Jet_Jaguar]

I liekd his earlier stuff that was more concrete and less oddball. Nausicca, Castle, Mononoke, Lupin etc.

I think I know what you mean. I'd love to see Miyazaki make another film more in the vein of Castle of Cagliostro or Laputa. I liked Spirited Away for the most part, but I was a bit disappointed by Howl's Moving Castle. I found it to be pretty to look at, but not much else. I think it gets a little too weird and abstract for its own good. Spirited Away had its share of weird and fanciful stuff too, but I think that it managed to stay on the tracks in a way that Howl's Moving Castle didn't.

Still, whatever it is, I'd much rather see a new Miyazaki/Ghibli film than 98% of the forgettable junk that comes out every week.

[Tinlantern]

Very true.

The thing about Usagi is that there is an overall arc to his life but within there are unusual, stand-alone, and intertwining stories. To have someone produce a quality animation would be a huge part pf that, but equally important would be to direct a great story.

I definitely am critical of the space usagi/TMNT cartoons. The quality of the animation just doesn't fit the quality of Stan's work.

[Dustykat]

I really wish the Space Usagi promo cartoon could be shown. Stand showed it ot me a very long time ago when he opened his home up to a friend and I was we were leaving California on the way back to Oklahoma after a convention when I lived there.

It was everything I could hope for in an Usagi Yojimbo cartoon.

*sigh*

[MikeM]

I just watched the trailer again and I have to say I am really looking forward to this movie. My wife smiles and nods when I tell her we have to go see it. She's awesome, putting up with all my hobbies and such.

MikeM

[Jet_Jaguar]

Here's a newer trailer for the movie. It looks like it might be fun.

http://pdl.stream.aol.com/aol/us/movief ... 80p_dl.mov

I checked the IMDB, and apparently the little kung fu master creature is voiced by Ian McShane from Deadwood!

[cynlee]

Really? I thought it was Dustin Hoffman...

Anyway, I am looking forward to it!

[Jet_Jaguar]

Really? I thought it was Dustin Hoffman...

Anyway, I am looking forward to it!

Actually, yes, that is Hoffman. I somehow got a little mixed up when I looked at the IMDB entry (Ian McShane actually is in it though, I doubt that his dialogue is as...colorful as it was on Deadwood [A good show BTW, go check out on DVD if you're not easily offended]):

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0441773/

[Tinlantern]

Here is what appears to be a first review of some footage:

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/35664

[Jet_Jaguar]

Here is what appears to be a first review of some footage:

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/35664

Sounds pretty good, but I'm not sure that I can accept a movie that features "a universe of upright, clothes-wearing talking animals." That's just crazy.