Why aren't more realistic and serious animated movies being made?

[wilsontheterrible]

1. Are completely realistic in plot and look, that is, people look like people and it doesn't contain supernatural or sci-fi concepts

2. Include swearing where appropriate,

3. Don't sound like a kids' movie when you describe the plot.

4. Aren't comedies.

Edit: 5. It has to be theoretically possible for the movie to have been based on a true story.

Why aren't there any animated psychological dramas?[/b]

There are several that spring to mind but none so absolutley perfect an example as the movie Paprika. It's essentially the movie inception, only it's written better and doesn't leave half the audience confused beyond redemption at the end of it.

By 'realistic' I'm taking it to mean it represents actual people or that the movie could have been done with real people with a lot of CGI.

Also, Grave of the Fireflies. It's a movie about children who experience the firebombings during WWII and are on the brink of starvation through the entire movie while trying to cope with the deaths of their families and their own likely deaths. If that's not 'theoretically possible' for a true story I don't know what is.

Edit: Roger Ebert considers it to be one of the most powerful anti-war movies ever made. Animation historian Ernest Rister compares the film to Steven Spielberg's Schindler's List and says, "it is the most profoundly human animated film I've ever seen."

Expand you're viewing horizens a little and a whole lot opens up.

 

[lord.jeff]

1. Are completely realistic in plot and look, that is, people look like people and it doesn't contain supernatural or sci-fi concepts

This requirement is the hardest to meet because it's the dumbest thing about your post, why would you take the time to animate if your going to have a realist look and no super natural elements, you can do that with real people easily.

And try Whispers of the Heart, and Persepolis, no swearing but that's not a requirement to make things mature.

 

[No_Remainders]

1. Are completely realistic in plot and look, that is, people look like people and it doesn't contain supernatural or sci-fi concepts

You seem to be implying that anything containing supernatural/sci-fi concepts can't possibly be for ANYONE but children.

This is ridiculous to the highest extent.

 

[Tanakh]

Well, I edited out the swearing thing, and the look is definitely realistic enough. And it's worse than me being ignorant. I knew about this movie but forgot about it. So that's four movies now.

Well, i put that at first because its the freaking POSTER CHILD of what you are asking. Totally realistic, totally "adult", zero compromises.

Look at the European underground school and the slice of life Japanese school (like 5 cm per second), and you will be up your neck with examples (provided you are short).

 

[necromanzer52]

In what insane world are you living in, in which supernatural and sci-fi concepts, are only for kids movies?

OT: whisper of the heart meets your criteria perfectly as far as I can remember.

 

[Queen Michael]

You seem to be implying that anything containing supernatural/sci-fi concepts can't possibly be for ANYONE but children.

This is ridiculous to the highest extent.

Michael, did you just say that anything containing sci-fi elements can't be a serious movie for adults??

Both of them contain sci-fi elements. Not that realistic, really.

So something with SF elements is inherently unrealistic? Try telling that to Arthur C. Clarke, or Robert A. Heinlein or the many other hard SF authors.

In what insane world are you living in, in which supernatural and sci-fi concepts, are only for kids movies?

I understand your objections. I've read my fair share of sf, and of course it's not for kids only. It's not like Charles Stross or William Gibson write kids' books. But my point is that animated films shouldn't have to include sf elements. Live-action films have managed to create great movies that fulfill all of my requirements. All I ask is that animation does the same.

 

[Braedan]

the lion king definitely doesn't sound like a kid movie and isn't a comedy.

"a cruel uncle murders a young boy's father in front of him. The boy is exiled from all he knows for years, upon returning home an adult to avenge his father and retake his throne."

sound kiddish?

how about cars?
besides the fact that they are cars and not the people in the cars it goes something like:

"a once prosperous town along role 66 is falling on hard times, with no hope in sight since the decline of the highway. desperate for solution, and to avoid starvation they turn to a stranded racer who is in debt to the community."

neither of those are childish plots, could have the "based on a true story" stamp.

Screw your rules 1 and 2. An adult movie those do not make. When you don't have the limitations of real life people why WOULD you try to do super realistic?
And swearing makes the difference? how?

also, I've heard Akira is pretty intense.

 

[crop52]

Bullshit, OP. Your requirements are bullshit.

If all those requirements are met, the movie would be a lot easier to make with a live cast and a bunch of CGI, so hollywood DOES hire a live cast and all that jazz to make the movie.

An animated movie could easily be made to fit all of those requirements. It would be less practical, which is the only reason it isn't being done.

*snip*
But my point is that animated films shouldn't have to include sf elements. Live-action films have managed to create great movies that fulfill all of my requirements. All I ask is that animation does the same.

Please refer to my sentences above.

 

[Queen Michael]

the lion king definitely doesn't sound like a kid movie and isn't a comedy.

"a cruel uncle murders a young boy's father in front of him. The boy is exiled from all he knows for years, upon returning home an adult to avenge his father and retake his throne."

sound kiddish?

how about cars?
besides the fact that they are cars and not the people in the cars it goes something like:

"a once prosperous town along role 66 is falling on hard times, with no hope in sight since the decline of the highway. desperate for solution, and to avoid starvation they turn to a stranded racer who is in debt to the community."

neither of those are childish plots, could have the "based on a true story" stamp.

Screw your rules 1 and 2. An adult movie those do not make. When you don't have the limitations of real life people why WOULD you try to do super realistic?
And swearing makes the difference? how?

also, I've heard Akita is pretty intense.

All of the movies you recommend violate rules on my list. There's nothing wrong or childish with that per se, it's just that you should be able to make a film that follows my rules and still is good. If live-action films can do it, why shouldn't animation be able to do it too?

 

[The Funslinger]

I'm going to just sum up the plot of Toy Story.

All the toys collected by a young boy pretend to be inanimate, and spring to life the moment nobody is around. Between them, they have developed a community with their own goals and agenda, taking free run of the house the moment nobody is around. After various occurrences, they take revenge on the boy next door for actively vandalizing/destroying his toys.

On the surface, that sounds like some real Stephen King shit right there.

 

[ExileNZ]

Add to Perfect Blue and Millenium Actress Satoshi Kon's other works, like Tokyo Godfathers (a bunch of down-and-outers find a baby and have to figure out what to do with it) and Paprika (terrorists find a way to infiltrate peoples' dreams and much madness ensues.

Failing that, Kanaan, Ghost in the Shell, Psychodiver... it's not very hard to find Japanese stuff that is more appropriate for adults.

 

[Kraiger]

As a quick answer for an adult cartoon (animated film take your pick)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nN-KdPBhyjc

 

[mesoforte]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monster_%28manga%29

You cannot construe that as childish in any way, form or fashion.

 

[drisky]

Animated movies are harder to make and the core parts of the movies (color and motion), appeal to children. Combine that with the stigma of animation in the West and people just can't make money off of non comedy adult animation (Anime not counting in this instance, they've made plenty). Drama tends to work better with live action, its cheeper and easier to make an emotional connection with a real face for most. Most of the time if people have no elements fantastical enough to need animation, they won't bother.

 

[Teh Jammah]

This seems a whole lot less like a thread about anime that aren't 'kiddie' and more like a 'recommend me anime films from a specific genre or in a specific style' thread. In which case the wording used is unecessarily inflamatory.

Either that or the OP considers anything with fantastical or sci-fi elements kiddie and/or is trolling

 

[Shadow flame master]

ive seen Spirited Away

i do NOT think that movie is for kids
it has people turning to pigs, freaky looking monster-people, and a giant creature who eats people

still amazing movie though

there is also Ghost in the Shell, Beowulf, and 9

Don't forget Princess Mononoke. 10 minutes in and my dad told me to watch it in my room because it was too violent for my sisters to watch.

OT: What about Blue Submarine No. 6? It's CGI doesn't hold up now but it was gritty and dark at times.

 

[qeinar]

i'd like to point out elfen lied, as a series here.. it doesn't check of all the points on your list, but still.. would you show that to a kid?

Sky crawlers is also a anime movie which may fit your checklist. ^^ not number 5 though, but most movies made can't be based on real stories. so if that is a criteria you'd have to rule out a ton of "adult movies" as not beeing adult movies.

would also point out kaiji and akagi as series not aimed at kids. (contains swearing, blood and despair.) : p

 

[Tanakh]

the lion king definitely doesn't sound like a kid movie and isn't a comedy.

All of the movies you recommend violate rules on my list. There's nothing wrong or childish with that per se, it's just that you should be able to make a film that follows my rules and still is good. If live-action films can do it, why shouldn't animation be able to do it too?

They are, and they have, and we have examples in this thread. I am curious about your use of English, are you native speaker? If so, don't you think that the way you redacted there implies that the industry haven't to the best of your knowledge created a film like the one you describe?

As a non native speaker, i am just curious if having that impression is correct or just a misunderstanding on my part.

 

[LorienvArden]

I never found any animated films that:

There, I fixed that statement for you because you where just WRONG.

There is a world of a difference between "there isn't" and "I haven't seen it"

 

[Queen Michael]

This seems a whole lot less like a thread about anime that aren't 'kiddie' and more like a 'recommend me anime films from a specific genre or in a specific style' thread. In which case the wording used is unecessarily inflamatory.

Either that or the OP considers anything with fantastical or sci-fi elements kiddie and/or is trolling

"Of course, neither sf or fantasy are inherently childish." This was part of my original post. And I just want to see a film like The Three Colors: Red made with the beauty of animation. That's why I made this thread.

Bullshit, OP. Your requirements are bullshit.

If all those requirements are met, the movie would be a lot easier to make with a live cast and a bunch of CGI, so hollywood DOES hire a live cast and all that jazz to make the movie.

An animated movie could easily be made to fit all of those requirements. It would be less practical, which is the only reason it isn't being done.

*snip*
But my point is that animated films shouldn't have to include sf elements. Live-action films have managed to create great movies that fulfill all of my requirements. All I ask is that animation does the same.

Please refer to my sentences above.

I get your point, but if they made it with animation instead of real actors, it would have the unique beauty of animation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monster_%28manga%29

You cannot construe that as childish in any way, form or fashion.

True that. Great series. But I was looking for a movie. You know, something you can see in a movie theater.