Daily Archives: September 19, 2024

I think the reason why a lot of companies tend to base their movies off of printed media is because of the well known IP and the fact that the already existing source material gives filmmakers a better visual of how the movies should look like in live action, while also giving audiences an easier time to get familiar and be more comfortable watching the movies. Since comics and graphic novels are more visual mediums than regularly printed books, they already have the framework of what they could do, whether it’s a comedy, action, suspense, horror, slice of life, etc.

There is a wide pool of stories and characters that filmmakers and creators can pull from when talking about comics and graphic novels, some can be very well-known like Spider-Man, X-Men, Superman, Wonder Woman, or Batman. Others were not as well-known or very obscure, like Guardians of the Galaxy, Ms. Marvel, Suicide Squad, Peacemaker, Blue Beetle, etc. And there are some indie comics that have a cult following that has grown in popularity over time like the Archie stories, or Scott Pilgrim.

The utilization of printed comics as source material for early animated films, particularly in the United States, was a practical choice due to several reasons. The pre-existing content provided a pre-written storyline and established character designs, simplifying the complex task of creating early animated films. Additionally, the popularity and following of the comics ensured a built-in audience for the animated adaptations. This strategic decision was instrumental in the early success of animated films.

I think so many early animated films were based on print comics mainly because of popularity and familiarity. Comics, during that time, were top-rated in the US. And with the content contained in the comics, using them as a basis for an animated film would be an obvious choice. It’s a guaranteed success due to the fanbases that comics have curated.

I think the reason that alot of early films were based on print comics was because it was the easiest thing to use because of the existing characters. The art was also simple which it made it easier to animate and since the characters already existed i feel like it was easier to bring in the fanbase.

I think that many early animated films were based on print comics mainly due to their simplicity in style. Comic strips conveyed very animated expressions and motion, yet at the same time didn’t require too much detail. Simplified drawings are very helpful when animating, especially at a time when every frame was completely re-drawn by hand. The characters used from comic strips were also well-known by the audience, who would find it entertaining to see those characters come to life. Not to mention, comic strips are essentially short stories, which is perfect for an animated film.