I find it so refreshing that we are in this rare stage in western animation where disney is actually not monopolizing all the attention. If anything, 2022 has been one of their worse years yet in the animation department. Everything they have done has been completely eclipsed by other studios for once. Their Pinocchio "movie" was just obliterated by Guillermo del Toro's version. Strange World was completely forgotten because of poor marketing choices, allowing Dreamworks to come back with the Bad Guys and Puss in Boots, the first being very good and the second absolutely excellent (I'm being serious, this movie is SO MUCH MORE than a simple Shrek spin-off).
TMNT even got its time to shine with probably the best 2D animated film this year (in a technical aspect at least), rekindling an interest for the entire franchise (with another TMNT movie by Seth Rogen in production!!)
The Sea Beast was amazing. Wendell & Wild was a masterclass. 2022 has just been excellent throughout, and it's Disney that happens to be the weakest at the moment. Even the Minions 2 got more attention than most things that came out on Disney + Animation this year (not saying that the movie was great or anything, but it's saying a lot)
And when we look at the next Pixar movie coming out next year, the hype pales in comparison to the Mario movie, and let's not even TALK about Across the Spiderverse......everybody knows it's going to snatch everyone's wig, and all the awards under the sun to match it.
So yeah, western animation gets to breathe a little, and it feels amazing.
Love this new Netflix genre of "Accidental Dad and his Adopted Problem Child join hands to overthrow the government which has been lying to everyone with centuries of propaganda"
movies from disney are like "generational trauma!! generational trauma!!! generational trauma!!!" while netflix are like "unloved?? here is an old guy he's your father figure from now on"
In celebration of The Sea Beast's noms for Annie Awards and Oscars! So proud of this gorgeous film and Blue!! These are my sketch development designs and storyboards for him. I wanted Maisie to have a monster to hold. ❤️