The Animation industry and its many Styles
The animation industry consists of many big name animation studios who focus on their own unique style throughout their productions. Many big studios have created memorable cartoon shows that can stand out amongst others from their ways of portraying characters and narrative. We have listed a few that stick out the most within the industry and what makes their respective art style theirs.
Studio Ghibli, known for its fluid animation and charming art style. The style can be characterized by their detailed backgrounds and whimsical nature in facial expressions and movement. Its art style consists of its simple yet expressive characters. The animation process at studio ghibli is very traditional from hand drawing their frames to later transferring them digitally for the final animated feature.
Kyoto Animation, a studio known for producing many animes such as Free, Violet Evergarden, A Silent Voice, and many more. Their style of animation is quite distinctive among the others based on defined body language, distinct character designs, and expressive facial expressions. Their narrative style emits a nostalgic feeling to the viewer which makes Kyoto animation stand out from the rest. The company has slowly refined its art and animation style since 2003 by portraying a light-filled style that elevates even casual stories.
Cartoon Network Studios, uses the “CalArts” style in many of their cartoon shows seen today. “CalArts” is a term for the animation style that is most commonly seen from artists who have attended the California Institute of art and have gone on to work with cartoon network. This style mainly consists of 2D character designs with round shapes, and that have noodle-like body movements. It is drawn to look simple which makes most of the cartoons on Cartoon Network look similar to one another, such as Steven Universe and The Amazing World of Gumball.
Warner Bros, an entertainment company that has produced many of the old-school animations that still reside with us today, you know Doc! Since 1923, a variety of films have been produced, making each work with a unique style to capture a wide range audiences. Get this, the same animation studio that animated the exaggerated and rebellious Looney Tunes, also gave life to the Corpse Bride movie, using the stop-motion technique! Warner Bros also aired the live-action/animated “Tom and Jerry” in 2021, a film that has bridged the animated and human world.
Sources:
https://blog.sakugabooru.com/2018/08/25/the-evolution-of-kyoto-animation-a-unique-anime-studio-and-its-consistent-vision/ (Kyoto Animation)
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.polygon.com/platform/amp/2018/5/22/17381380/thundercats-roar-cartoon-network-style-steven-universe (Cartoon Network)
http://www.tasteofcinema.com/2017/the-10-most-distinct-traits-of-hayao-miyazakis-cinema/ (Ghibli Studios)
https://screenrant.com/warner-bros-best-animated-films-imdb-lego-movie-corpse-bride/ (Warner Bros)