Animation as How It Is Viewed Today, TODAY

Too much plot and characters, too little development.

Let me put this out of the way: I like Frozen quite fine as an enjoyable if not okay princess flick. That is until well...

Look, I am viewing it how the animation company is seen today especially those who rank it and why Frozen does not deserve to be glorified.

It's rampart since Frozen had been released. Controversy over the PoC characters and everything you heard from the Frozen detractors.

The popularity of Frozen became so annoying it began invading other works precisely because of its popularity...recognition that the movie had not earned.

It became much more dubious when Frozen only won because of its name and the fact those who meant to choose the winner at the Oscars failed to understand that animation is another medium of storytelling.

The only reason why Frozen did as well as it did was because of promotion, marketing. Frozen only won just because of the name Disney.

It had not earned its recognition. It was given to them.

The more I continued to watch the movie, its flaws became more obvious. It's not a flawless movie and totally not the first Disney movie to do what fans are saying (say had you ever watch Lilo and Stitch? Mulan? Enchanted? These movies may not be as 'flawless' but the reason is still there: It's not the first movie to do what you think. Other companies and even Disney themselves had already done this formula and did it much better and Frozen did not bring anything new to the table unlike say HTTYD which bring something new to the Boy and his X and Father story). I do not hate Frozen; I am just pointing out the fact Frozen is still glorified as the creme de la creme of animation even though it did not deserved to be.

The only things that carried Frozen was Disney and its merchandising. People see the music being played everywhere and merchandise and assume "This is the best as animation had done!". This is sad.

Its praise then didn't seem the fit the movie. The movie is objectively not the best thing that ever happened since...Toy Story 3...which if anyone had read my previous posts know I don't like the latter to a great extent. It's not groundbreaking or unique. Not even TS3 is treated like Frozen! And I had taken the brunt of both hype! Maybe just a little with hearing morality symbolism and all that stuff...so maybe it's kinda like it...

Objectively from a writing/story standpoint, Frozen falls flat.

• Nothing is ever explained for why does Elsa have ice powers in the first place, why the trolls are there and are so-called experts on magic, was magic hidden or no, so many questions 
• plot holes like who rule Arendelle when Elsa was studying to be queen in the first place, the cousins or anybody related to the siblings have a stronger chance of ruling over a guy who said they married but with no witnesses whatsoever but still have some type of rule... so many plotholes...
• telling more than showing the relationship of Kristoff and Anna (if only the movie hadn't push the two would be together in the end and only focus on the the sisters who should have more relationship showing), Anna and Elsa, The sisters and Olaf, Kristoff with the trolls.... man, are there are loads of telling the feelings rather than connecting honestly with the character's expressions. We are told they are close but we are never shown any interactions. Basically we have to take for granted that they are close... 
• weak or even nonexistent character 'development' where we know nothing about these characters especially Elsa. The film has about 20% of her in it and she wasn't well-developed nor we see her struggle so I really didn't get into her much so I kind of see her as a plot device than an actual character. Kristoff didn't show a hidden side of himself and neither did Anna to each other as opposed to Flynn and Rapunzel in Tangled. We hardly shown them getting to know each other. Anna is so impulsive with her decisions in general (leaving a complete stranger in charge of her kingdom!) when she should have been burned for her impulsiveness but she never was. Only slapstick instead of drama for her as opposed to Ariel who paid for her impulsiveness earlier on and learned to respect her father more and she saw how her recklessness affected everyone she loved. We hardly knew these characters beside selfishness, recklessness, and just being plain.
• fantastical elements as a metaphor rather than addressing around the issue (just why not treat it like a real issue and make it real like how Tangled did with the emotional abuse and Lilo and Stitch with the real issues of a teen raising a child or even Mulan with war and death. No matter how flawed these movies are, they at least address the issue at hand and Mulan have a freaking death count, the highest out of anyone in the Disney cast). The Ice powers didn't seem to come across as some kind of mental illness to me when I first watched it and moreso. Not to mention, it's practically a slap on the face since Elsa was healed by love...something that real people had done but never came close to having a happy ending that Elsa have. It may hit home for others but please listen to what I am saying: not everyone would be happy at this depiction of healing from a mental illness. Elsa practically healed instantly at the end so I can't say it's much of a progress... I know it's a Disney movie but to say it's a mental illness, telling us so is just not great of a storytelling...
• totally not the first Disney or even other smaller animated movie/cartoon/anime to do what fans think it did (Lilo and Stitch, Mulan, hell even Brave!, Enchanted; then about other studios movies then: How to Train Your Dragon, The Incredibles, ParaNorman; so how about TV shows: Danny Phantom, The Powerpuff Girls, The Fairly Odd Parents)
• did not bring anything new to the table beside its good intentions
• poor pacing
• poor character designs particularly for the women (do you know they are talking about hair instead of faces?!)
• contradictory themes - they lectured us as if we are idiots (it's not subversive if you spell it out to us. The audience are not idiots especially kids! Do not underestimate kids' perception!) that love takes time yet they still push Kristoff and Anna together when they barely knew each other when Anna and Hans knew each other for at least 11 hours. The trolls were supposed to unreliable when how can that be when they healed Anna the first time? That doesn't make any sense at all. 

That's my criticism in the writing department for both story and character. I am criticizing it on its own merits rather than being a Snow Queen Adaptation which failed miserably as one anyway.

But remember I find this to be an alright movie. That does not mean I would not criticize it for its faults. You can still love this and call this your favorite movie even (Confused Matthew is doing it...even though I never watched his videos again but considering how much he liked to have everything spelled it for him, I'm not surprised Frozen made it to his Favorites list) but you have to acknowledge its flaws that people are saying. It's just the fact that the glorification of this movie from how "progressive" and basically knocking all other movies that released that year to be knocked aside from other studios and even Disney Animated Canon that never gotten this much recognition even Tangled. Frozen is not revolutionary as people like to think it is.

There's a reason why I don't consider Frozen the cream of the crop of animation. I think that it is complete Bulls*** when a movie like Frozen became the "top grossing animated movie of all time". The media coverage is pretty much the only reason why Frozen made the "top highest grossing animated movie of all time".

Frozen is the prime example what animation is perceived today.

The movie can hit home for others but from an objective standpoint, Frozen was not the greatest story ever told nor was it well-told either.

I do not hate Frozen nor do I love it. It was just okay.

I don't have a problem with people liking Frozen. It's the problem that people are glorifying, snatching up credit that it had not earned. All enjoyment the first time I saw the movie just became less entertaining. If I was forced to watch it, I would only be reminded of the unwarranted glorification that simply wasn't earned. It's far from perfect, far from Disney's best even.

Fans of Frozen should know better for animation movie ranking especially critics and people nowadays (just look at what those who had choose the Animated Movies Category 2013 and how much of a backlash that caused) who see nothing but Disney.

Animation isn't taken seriously as a visual medium as any other film-making skill. That is what I am talking about. I adore animation and take the art seriously and so does many other people in the animation movie industry. Brad Bird (The Iron Giant,  Ratatouille, The Incredibles) and Chris Sanders (Lilo and Stitch, How to Train Your Dragon, The Croods) made wonderful features and while they received praise, they never had this much praise to receive the title "better than The Lion King".

There are movies like The Croods and The Wind Rises but all of those were pushed to the side just because of the Disney name rather than actual storytelling which two of the aforementioned movies did so much more better. Even some hardcore Frozen fans admit The Croods was a much more better movie but since we know Frozen is going to win anyway. Yes, it was that predictable. Not because of any story standpoint at all, nope not at all. The Oscars didn't earn its name either but that's a different story.

How about I compare Frozen to a movie that had the same story problems as Frozen?

Critics was more harsh on the film, lambasting its plot holes. Because Blue Skies Studios is a young studio and trying to make their mark and develop their own style, they didn't have the advantage Disney has. They can't advertise the hell out of their movie because they need to make their money through the success of their movies.

Now I will admit Epic is not a perfect film but here's the unfortunate truth: had it been labeled under Disney, critics will laud animation and characters, brushing aside plot holes.

Frozen had just as many plotholes as Epic but it's being lauded as revolutionary.

Both movies should have done well or at least decent and sequel planned if the brand name was not a factor. The Disney name had allowed Frozen to be a pass.

Now, Disney has been around for so long and made excellent movies that deserve its praise.

However, this bother animation fans now because can a movie with just as many flaws as the smaller studio's and get so much praise?

When Disney make Planes, it make more money despite being a critical flop. On the other hand, we will be lucky to have a movie for ROTG or Epic.

So really people today judge animation by studio rather than the blood, sweat, and tears the other studios put the movies together. People need to see we have to be just as critical to Disney as we are to the smaller studios. Otherwise, it wouldn't be fair if someone won by brand name only.

That's just sad.

Movies like The Lego Movie and HTTYD 2 lived up to their hype but never received the treatment Frozen was given. Not even Kung Fu Panda 2 and Toy Story 3 received it either! Perhaps TS3 though...but that's still debatable...

Smaller studios including LAIKA and Dreamworks did not the empowering name that is Disney. These studios made their movies on the success (in other words, they have to earn positive response) rather than name but even the name can taint what Dreamworks and other studios are growing.

Look there were ignorant posts on Tumblr that Dreamworks only make bad movies and even one is an animation major. I wish I have those links at hand.

Do not get me wrong but I love Disney as much as the man next to me. I grew up with Pixar and Disney and you see my love/hate relationship with the former particularly since TS3 and Brave (both of which I don't like as much..especially Brave in which I found Merida to be very villainous and she never changed!) and growing admiration for the smaller studios (just how underrated the Dreamworks movies are? A lot!)

I am not saying that no one takes animation seriously. It's the fact that animation isn't taken seriously for those who rank animated movies in the movie industry when animation is just another medium of storytelling. Imagine what Brad Bird had to say about the people who don't take animation seriously: he'll punch it. He did vow it.

I don't go around posting hate about Frozen... I hate to hate on Frozen and although I do know that people are passionate about their love/hatred, it's still be best to calm down and talk civilly even with the hatred going on with the Anti Freeze Team (who did prove themselves to be civil and apologetic but they do and can be just as cruel with their insults if you managed to piss them off...which I won't recommend you do since they do have valid points) and the judgmental irrationally defensive Frozen fanbase is (I know fandoms has their irrational sides but this is just too much and it's all due to the fact that everyone quite literally pushed the fact Frozen is 'perfect'...and people just accepted that!); I am not saying to put hate on Frozen but.... It's just a very flawed film that was billed as perfect even though it never earned it. I don't hate easily since I am just too kind; I am pointing about what society is viewing animation as of now.

Other studios work their a** off to be seen as even good or just as great as Disney and Pixar but are seen as a joke. No matter how much these studios try taking risks even if they can't afford it (you know taking their story to a mature audience, homosexual characters which are intentional and did not leave it open to interpretation and could easily be debunked because Disney did not come out and say the characters are gay (I could believe the hoyay in Code Geass, Tiger and Bunny, Free! and so many more because the writers teased us to no end that they're like an old married couple and so forth in interviews and other products. While I am glad LGBT community has gotten some recognition, they are still choosing a film that the writers never came out and say that these characters are gay. Disney will never take the risk to make a gay character come out or even just give it out like a fact like Mitch and Gobber from ParaNorman and HTTYD2. They are not going to risk the adults and parents. Seriously, there are parents who didn't let their kids see HTTYD2 because Gobber is gay even though he just say it's a fact about him. That's not progressive! It's sheltering kids from growth.), etc), Disney will make millions of money without taking a single risk.

The reason I never complained about Dreamworks and the other studios was because I know they have to achieve success by earning them. Disney and Pixar had earned themselves 'god of animation' film-wise and had created excellent films but people see them as safe. Pixar didn't go the extra mile that they used in as seen in TS3 and their recent films. Disney played it safe yet they achieved success because of their name. Disney nor Pixar is not going to go bankrupt anytime soon and should take the risks that the younger studios have been doing for ages. To keep babying them and say for them to not take a risk would not make them progressive like what everyone thinks they are.

We can't wait for Disney to be actually progressive and be the representation of all things animation. For every average Disney film come out, there will be an excellent animated feature. This year had The Lego Movie, HTTYD2, and The Book of Life. Other studios are progressive but are ignored because they are not Disney.

I want Big Hero 6 to be as good as Wreck-it-Ralph. I found the recent films Disney churned about to be mediocre and not as extraordinary. Disney is back...but not in the way one could say progressive or risk-taking.

Animation is a dear part of my heart and even though Sherlock S3 may destroyed my love for Sherlock...just half of it because of my very kind heart, animation is one of the factors that still pushed me to where I am today.

In debt.