Animation

Nice post

Wonderful post, Bliss! You're on an excellent journey through storytelling. Keep being amazing!

Am really glad Robin Gregory, thank you

Bliss Ganza Demon Slayer is actually on my list to watch, and posts like this keep moving it higher. I've heard so many great things about how it balances incredible visuals with strong emotional storytelling.

I completely agree that the best action scenes are the ones that reveal something about the characters. Spectacle can grab your attention, but it's the emotional investment that makes those moments memorable. I'm looking forward to finally watching Demon Slayer to see how it accomplishes that.

thank you very much Cyrus Sales

I agree with you. Adult animation has been a huge industry that continues to grow. As someone who loves animated shows and movies, I’m excited for it to keep unfurling.

Dwayne Williams I love this perspective. The Boondocks is one of those shows that proved animation could tackle complex social issues without sacrificing humor or entertainment. It really did carve out its own space in adult animation.

It's been a while since I've watched it, and your post makes me want to go back and revisit the series. I have a feeling I'll pick up on a lot more now than I did the first time around.

The Boondocks is one of my all-time favorite animated television shows. It would have my wife and me crying with laughter. But at the same time, it told a story about how the culture can bring itself down by doing some dumb stuff and trying to promote it as okay.

Banafsheh Esmailzadeh I had no idea this was actually the origin of that soundbite! It was funny to watch and one of those moments where you realize you've heard something everywhere without ever knowing where it came from.

Cyrus Sales right?! I was surprised, too (still have to watch the anime, I loved the Horimiya manga), that this is where it came from, and it's even better in context. Anime just rules lol so much meme fodder~

Angie Scharold I actually haven't fully watched Bob's Burgers yet, but it's definitely on my list. From all the snippets and clips I've seen, I can see why so many people love it. The characters have so much personality, and the writing seems to do a great job of making them feel genuine.

It's also cool to hear how it's influencing your own preschool-aged animated pilot. Studying shows that consistently execute strong character development and storytelling is always time well spent.

Eases. Really noticeable when they’re missing.

I’ve also seen hand-drawn films where I can tell it was done straight-ahead instead of pose-to-pose. That method often feels sluggish, without impact or the necessary exaggerated posing.

Mike Boas great point. Timing and ease are probably some of the least appreciated principles by audiences, yet they're often the difference between animation feeling "real" or "off."

Your observation about pose-to-pose animation reminded me of classics like The Lion King and Aladdin. Those films weren't just beautifully drawn—they were carefully staged. Characters often hold a pose just long enough for the audience to absorb the emotion before moving into the next action. Those subtle choices give the performances a sense of thought and intention that still holds up decades later.

Joshua Powell One of the biggest ones is timing and spacing.

A character can have a beautifully designed rig and great poses, but if the timing feels off, the audience will notice something is wrong, even if they can't explain why. Small adjustments to acceleration, deceleration, and the spacing between frames can completely change the weight, emotion, and personality of a performance.

I really like your perspective. To be honest, I have no idea how these animated films are actually made. In my opinion, making an animation like this is much harder than making a live-action film. I really admire the effort it takes.

Thank you so much, Mohammad! I really appreciate that. I agree that animation is an incredible collaborative art form. While the writing process still begins with story and characters, it’s amazing to see how artists, animators, designers, voice actors, composers, and so many others bring that vision to life. That’s one of the things I admire most about animation—it takes the imagination of an entire team to create something that feels effortless on screen.

Charmane Wedderburn, I love your point that animation is truly a collaborative art form. Audiences often see the finished film but don't always realize how many disciplines come together to create a believable performance and emotional experience.

One animated film I always come back to is A Bug's Life. It's easy to remember the humor and adventure, but Hopper's speech about "one ant standing up" is one of the most memorable examples of character motivation I've seen in animation. It explains the villain's worldview so clearly that it raises the stakes far beyond simply gathering food. Every time I revisit that scene, I'm reminded how powerful great writing and voice acting can be when they're working together.

It's one of those films that continues to influence the way I think about storytelling.

Joshua, that’s such a great example. Hopper is one of those villains whose motivation makes perfect sense from his own perspective, which makes him even more compelling. I also love your point about writing and voice acting working together—it’s a reminder that animation is never just about visuals. Every discipline contributes to creating an emotional experience for the audience. Thanks for sharing such a thoughtful example!

No doubt, Cyrus Sales. It's a great animation short :)

Oh Claudia Guerrero-Zalokar, I am so happy you watched. It speaks, and it's a universal message. Happy for that :)

Sandra Isabel That really brought me back to the animated features I grew up with. The music was really great. Thank you for sharing!

Thank you for sharing the video. It was like Charlie Chaplin in his silent movies. Expressions and music used to create a story.

I am really happy you both appreciated Snow Bear. You are welcome, Michael Teisan. Yes, sometimes we don't need dialogue Wendy Kay, visuals and music with a great story are the perfect recipe. :)

Gurpreet Singh Great choices. Both films strike that rare balance of entertainment and emotional depth. The Lion King is one of the best examples of visual storytelling and character-driven emotion, while Kung Fu Panda shows how humor and action can reinforce, rather than distract from, a meaningful character arc.

One that has had a big impact on me is Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. It completely redefined what animation could look and feel like, blending innovative visuals with a story about identity, self-worth, and finding your own path. It proved that taking creative risks in both style and storytelling can resonate with audiences on a massive scale.

Best of luck with THE HIMALAYAN GATE. It sounds like you're drawing inspiration from some fantastic examples of timeless storytelling.

Cyrus Sales great choice.i love all parts of spider

man.i haven’t watched the animation version though.i’ll give it a try and thank for the wishes.wish you the best too!

Thanks Cyrus Sales . I've often wondered what a sequel would look like and even came up with an idea just for the fun of it. But at the same time, I don't know that I would want a sequel to take away from the magic of the first one.

Leonardo Ramirez I can say with confidence, leave it be lol. I feel like sequel's are a hit or miss. Especially with classics and especially when a lot of time has lapsed.

There have been sequels that are just as good because they are different than the first movie (I'm thinking "Aliens", "Star Trek II: TWOK") but those are few and far between Cyrus Sales.

I'm looking forward to seeing this animated film at our local theater on August 1st. Sounds like I'm in for a treat!

Sad to say I never saw this in theaters James Wunderlich but would love to.

James Wunderlich That’s a fascinating inspiration for a story. It’s incredible how themes from thousands of years ago still influence modern storytelling. Philoctetes has such strong dramatic elements, abandonment, isolation, betrayal, and the struggle between personal pain and a greater purpose.

Cyrus Sales, thanks for reaching out. Much appreciated!

Charmane Wedderburn, thank you for the love, Greatly appreciated!