In honor of the 2011 Chicago International Children's Film Festival this month at Facets, I felt inclined to write on film fare made for children. This year's festival has a lineup of beautiful, funny, and smart kids’ films from all over the world, and I am an avid appreciator of this cream of the crop. When thinking of clever and challenging films made for a younger crowd, I gravitate towards a particular maker of movies from my childhood. And, his films still intrigue me. I've waited forever for an excuse to write about Don Bluth.
Bluth began his career as a directing animator for Disney in the 1960s but left to start his own independent animation studio, bringing a few dissatisfied Disney animators along with him. He made four films in the 1980s and early 1990s that are exemplary of his style: The Secret of NIMH (1982), An American Tail (1986), The Land Before Time (1988), and All Dogs Go To Heaven (1991). What is so remarkable about these films is their overall atmosphere of darkness, both visually and figuratively. His films contain heavy subject matter, and like other films at this time, depicted orphans, poverty, re-imagined historical events, and the grief of losing one's family. However, Bluth’s films featured menacing elements that polarized critics: He received praise for his harsher, more energetic portrayals of subjects compared to Disney films; yet, he was berated when other critics found his dark subject matter inappropriate for family films, because of the depictions of death, violence, vice, demons, and hell. The color palette used in these Bluth films is notably darker than that of their contemporaries. Some scenes take on a smoky or glowing quality, which has awed me to this day. For instance, how does one achieve the effect of glowing eyes when working in 2D animation, like that in The Secret of NIMH?
Perhaps in allegiance with Grimm's Fairy Tales, these films completely embrace the seedy, stressful, and sinister, without being overtly moralizing. It seems as though these narratives could be adult drama, but the human characters are replaced with animated animals. The format (animation) speaks to kids, but the underlying themes speak to everybody. Bluth films entrusted a young audience with glimpses of the adult world without patronizing them—they instead explored themes that are unapologetically sad or scary in a venue that is palatable to them. I really admire that. I do remember being scared or stressed out by the action in these movies as a kid, but I watched them over and over again, so something must have resonated. And the day it dawned on me that An American Tail was about immigration in the United States was a really significant ah-ha! moment in my middle school career, but just because I didn't understand the historical reference as a five-year-old didn't mean I didn't understand the emotions at play.
I am not an expert on children's movies of today, but I have seen similarities at work in a few movies, such as Henry Selick’s Coraline. However, other mainstream films of recent years are pure drivel for kids. What are your thoughts? How do you feel about Don Bluth, Disney, Pixar, dark content in kids' films, popular kids' movies of today, 3D animation vs. 2D animation...?
Let's start a dialogue, and be sure to check out the Chicago International Children's Film Festival! --by Brittany Pyle
11 comments:
One of my favorite movies when I was a kid (and still one of my all time favs) was Don Bluth's All Dogs go to Heaven. There are some frightening and unnerving moments in this film, but perhaps what compelled me to watch that VHS tape over and over again were the powerful emotions I felt. Bluth was not afraid to present the realties of life- good or bad; beautiful or ugly; innocent or sinister; happy or sad- to children. His films aren't just entertainment, something resonates and sticks with you no matter how old you may be. Hopefully animators will carry on in Bluth's tradition and continue to make meaningful films.
Who's to say that children's films can't have substance? Bluth was ahead of his time, as most every Pixar film since the sequel to Toy Story has had its fair share of darker moments. This was great. Nice work.
Thanks for reminding me of some great films from my childhood!
I must say that The Secret of NIMH used to horrify me when I was a young child, yet it is probably the movie I most treasure from my childhood as well. It doesn't shy away from making the characters seem much more realistic than other films (especially Disney films - way to go Bluth for sticking it to the man). This film gave way to some wonderfully darker themes that, in my opinion, are actually extremely important to expose children to, instead of sweeping humanity's issues under the carpet until the public education system gets to them. Plus, magic/science (same thing) is cool. So glad to see these getting some recognition. Bravo.
Also, never see The Secret of NIMH 2: Timmy to the Rescue. It was made without Bluth's input or consent.
Love this subject! I think about this often. Though Bluth was the master, I feel like the majority of animated movies (or at least the ones I watched) as a child were overall a lot darker and more serious than those made for children today. I can't recall ever watching one that didn't leave me at least a little stressed at some point during the movie. Maybe I'm turning into a crotchety old woman, but I feel like those childhood movies made older generations better rounded...a little tougher than kids today.
Though, I will say that Pixar does a decent job of keeping children on their toes these days. Toy Story 3 really got me!
I agree that children's movies today are mainly drivel, or they try to present serious content in a cheery manner. It is a shame. I think the bright color pallet they use takes away from the message they are trying to get across.
I think you're so right, the"darkness" in children's films can be so beneficial for kids on conscious and uncurious levels. By Bluth taking heavy issues and transforming them to be relatable to both children and adults alike is what story telling and art have always been about. Ancient myths as an example helped people understand and cope with life's tough issues. In a sense I see these darker films in a similar way to other educational children programs, not in the ways of teaching a child to count per-se but by teaching them life in a way. The first step to the knowledge of the wonder and mystery of life is the recognition of the monstrous nature of the earthly human realm as well as its glory, the realization that this is just how it is and that it cannot and will not be changed. Those who think they know how the universe could have been had they created it, without pain, without sorrow, without time, without death, are unfit for illumination.
I enjoyed watching a good deal of the animations Don Bluth help create (my personal favorites being Sleeping Beauty & Robin Hood). I suppose the character archetypes impressed me the most. They helped foster my interest in folklore and prehistory.
It may not be fair to compare 2D to 3D since each has its own strengths. I do agree that the quality of art & storytelling has faded recently but all is not lost. The Annecy International Animated Film Festival, for example, still keeps the wonder & magic of animation alive.
Julio, I side with your tastes in regard to Bluth's work for Sleeping Beauty and Robin Hood (I also really loved The Sword in the Stone). I suppose it's not so curious that those Disney films are my favorites.
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