“Princess and the Frog” (2009) and “Winnie the Pooh” (2011) were the last Disney movies animated in the traditional 2-Dimensional style. Disney–and other major companies–started to animate in 3D using CGI (computer-generated imagery) due to its cost effectiveness and being more efficient to create. 2D animations required more labor due to each frame having to be hand drawn. Disney, more specifically, was able to compete with other film companies like Dreamworks and Pixar who were doing well with the new animation style.
While 3D animations have created many new possibilities for animators, they also creates issues. CGI animations are brighter and more stimulating to the eye, which is designed to catch the attention of younger audiences. The way the shows are edited makes them very fast paced. In the scenes, the characters move very quickly with a multitude of visual elements happening on the screen at one time. That mixed with the quick camera angles and backgrounds changing constantly does not make it easy to watch.
Although teens are not the target audience for these animated films and shows, teens find them very hard to watch because of the intense imagery. For example, the 2023 movie “Elemental” shares an amazing story about unity and overcoming diversity, set in a fictional world with different elements (earth, wind, fire, air) as the characters. However, it can be very hard to follow the story because of characters like Wade Ripple. His rapid changes in form mixed with the intense color schemes do not make for a good viewing experience.
Parents of younger children have started to notice that the new animation style is affecting their children in multiple ways. Their children are starting to have shorter attention spans because they are accustomed to shows and films like “Cocomelon” or “Paw Patrol” that are edited in a fast paced manner and overall more stimulating. Researchers have started to support these claims over time as technology has progressed. Researchers have noticed that children have a hard time focusing on slow paced activities like independent play, reading and doing creative tasks while watching overstimulating animation. Parents have also noticed that when they watch these shows, their children are more hyperactive or high strung. When the parents switched to traditional 2D animation shows that are slower paced and less stimulating, like “Max and Ruby” or “Berenstain Bears,” their children are calmer because they are able to focus on the storyline and the lessons being told. Although many 3D animated films and shows have those same lessons, it can be hard for young children to comprehend that with the excessive animations.
Some may argue that the 3-Dimensional animations offer more compared to 2D animations because they allow for more emotion to be visually conveyed along with the dialogue happening in these films. Another argument is that animators have more creative freedom because they are able to think outside of the box compared to the limitations of 2D animations. This is not something that outweighs the long term effects of these animation styles. Overall, children benefit more from watching 2D animations compared to the 3D style.
