Direct 2 Video Animated Films: Do They All Stink?

[Terrence Briggs]

I touched on this in my review of Batman: Under the Red Hood, so I
might as well start a separate discussion about it.

Twenty years ago, the idea of North America releasing direct-to-video
animation for teens and young adults seemed unthinkable. Now, the
marketplace is flooded with animated comic book and video game
adaptations. Yet, I'm not sure any of them are any good.

I've seen the following:
Batman: Under the Red Hood
Batman vs Dracula
Batman: Gotham Knights
Superman/Batman: Public Enemies
Superman: Doomsday
Superman: Braniac Attacks
Wonder Woman

Ultimate Avengers 1 & 2
Iron Man
Planet Hulk
Dr. Strange

Dante's Inferno

They're all mediocre at best.

I haven't seen the Justice League films (New Frontier and Crisis on 2
Earths). I clearly love JLUnlimited, but (clearly) loving a TV series
doesn't keep to D2v produts from disappointing.

What gives? The staff includes planty of vets from good TV series.
They have plenty of money (it shows in the animation quality
sometimes). Don't they have more creative freedom? Are the deadlines
too strict? You can make a decent 20-minute episode, sometimes a
decent 2-parter. Why can't you tell a good story in 80 minutes,
without padding everything with overextended action sequences and
exposition. You have time to tell a strong story. Why are these
products so brutal and impatient?

Am I missing something?

Terrence Briggs, hopefully will see the Justice League DVDs soon.
Peace to you...

[Chris Sobieniak]

Post by Terrence Briggs
I touched on this in my review of Batman: Under the Red Hood, so I
might as well start a separate discussion about it.
Twenty years ago, the idea of North America releasing direct-to-video
animation for teens and young adults seemed unthinkable.  Now, the
marketplace is flooded with animated comic book and video game
adaptations.  Yet, I'm not sure any of them are any good.
Batman: Under the Red Hood
Batman vs Dracula
Batman: Gotham Knights
Superman/Batman: Public Enemies
Superman: Doomsday
Superman: Braniac Attacks
Wonder Woman
Ultimate Avengers 1 & 2
Iron Man
Planet Hulk
Dr. Strange
Dante's Inferno
They're all mediocre at best.
I haven't seen the Justice League films (New Frontier and Crisis on 2
Earths).  I clearly love JLUnlimited, but (clearly) loving a TV series
doesn't keep to D2v produts from disappointing.
What gives?  The staff includes planty of vets from good TV series.
They have plenty of money (it shows in the animation quality
sometimes).  Don't they have more creative freedom?  Are the deadlines
too strict?  You can make a decent 20-minute episode, sometimes a
decent 2-parter.  Why can't you tell a good story in 80 minutes,
without padding everything with overextended action sequences and
exposition.  You have time to tell a strong story.  Why are these
products so brutal and impatient?
Am I missing something?
Terrence Briggs, hopefully will see the Justice League DVDs soon.
Peace to you...

I wish I knew the answer, and you do think they'd give these guys a
decent budget and creative freedom to work around with as well.

[Anim8rFSK]

In article

Post by Chris Sobieniak
I wish I knew the answer, and you do think they'd give these guys a
decent budget and creative freedom to work around with as well.

I don't. I wish they would, but I don't think they would. The junk
makes as much money as the good stuff, and it's cheaper.

[Amy Madison]

Post by Anim8rFSK
In article

Post by Chris Sobieniak
I wish I knew the answer, and you do think they'd give these guys a
decent budget and creative freedom to work around with as well.

I don't. I wish they would, but I don't think they would. The junk
makes as much money as the good stuff, and it's cheaper.
--
"Please, I can't die, I've never kissed an Asian woman!"
Shego on "Shat My Dad Says"

Well, they don't stink, most of them were good, I know a lot of direct to video films are based on dolls, so they're popular at the time and have webisodes.