Does anyone agree with the idea that "If it can be done in live action it should be?"

[I.R Joey]

I had a teacher in a class I took over the summer, who believed this. I;ve heard that others have said things along the same lines as well. Your opinions?

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

No, I don't agree. Different mediums add different things to a story.

For example:

A story about a girl's life in poverty.

Sounds like something you can shoot in live action, right? Well, maybe. Sure, you can do it this way, but...animating it can add something that live-action cannot do. Animation has a certain amount of charm to it that can lend warmth *or* coldness to a story. A harsh, bleak story can be made more palatable by animating it, but live action lends realism. It depends on what you want.

In my opinion, though, there is more than one way to tell a story, and this applies here as well.

[I.R Joey]

Looks like we agree on something else LLJ. I thought of alot of diffrent shows that could really have been done in live action, but where enhanced do to the effects of animation. Special effects that, while possible through computers today, would still look rather funky.

[Maxie Zeus]

Well, anything can be done "live action" in the sense that it is possible to mount a production. "The Lion King" can be done live-action, and in fact it has been done. Ask your teacher if the theatrical "Lion King" is better than the animated for that reason.

To say that a movie "should be" live action if it can be is like saying it "should be" only 60 minutes long if it can be. It should be told in whatever medium (at at whatever length) will best enhance and present the material.

[Ricochet]

"Cow and Chicken" could be done in live action. Would you want it to be, however?

[The Mad Hatter]

I agree with Maxie. However, if your teacher was talking about converting existing cartoons... superhero movies aside, pretty much all of the live-action cartoon conversions have been painful to watch.

[LightAngel]

I was just going to mention this with the recent news of Samurai Jack likely beinging turned into a live action film. In cases like that, I just can't see it being done. I really don't believe they can pull it off without making it appear cheesy. However, I wouldn't mind an animated film!

[JustJack]

Great subject.

Do you guys think that Smallville would be better animated, or live action like it is now? needless to say, Paul Dini & Bruce Timm would have to work on it...Then it'd be really good. But, at the same time, the ratings would still be in the 2-11 year old range. And, even if it does do really well, Kids WB would still cancel it, just because PokeMon is a bigger franchise. Stupid KWB....

[Ricochet]

No, I think Smallville works better live action.