The Real Winners of 2023 Animation

To be honest, 2023 certainly wasn't really a great year for animation....

I felt too inclined to do this year-end post that's not a Maverick Quickie but I didn't do something like this when my Blog used to be in my WIX website so that's going to change right the F now!

I've compiled what I think are the real winners of 2023's animation scene.

For starters, we have MY ADVENTURES WITH SUPERMAN.

Holy Shit, I didn't expect this to be one of the best diversions away from what executives were trying to mandate on their artists but it certainly wasn't the first.

This may be one of the best iterations of Superman to appear on the animation scene. 

My guess it's mostly the story and of course the redesign and retouched personality of Lois Lane who for some reason became the breakout star of the show but for me, it's the art style. It's a nice change from all that puppet-rigged bullshit that's still permeating the 2D animation industry but Superman really does subvert all those expectations of what you can get artistic-wise.

When I look at a show like this, It really should be a figurehead for telling executives at their faces that ANIME IS THE FUTURE OF ANIMATION WORLDWIDE!!!!

Even though it doesn't look the part with it's TV-PG rating, the art style is a dead-giveaway that this version of Superman is meant for adults which explains it's place in ADULT SWIM.

The Season 3 finale of THE OWL HOUSE

No, I haven't watched OWL HOUSE in full......yet. But I have paid attention to the production scene.

A lot of us viewers are kind of still mad at Disney's executives for screwing over Dana Terrace thinking that Owl House is not a fit for the company when in fact it really was since the show had huge potential but come on, executives should not have the right to screw both creators and the fanbase like that.

I won't spoil the rest of OWL HOUSE but the final season follows our protagonist going back to the Boiling Isles for a final battle with a mastermind.... again, I need to rededicate my time to watch this show so forgive my wax-philosophical. Once I binge-watch from beginning to end, I'll provide a new update on a 2024 post but aside from behind the scenes turmoil, this has to be the best ending to a tv series with a more serialized storyline and a good love story for both Luz and Amity.

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off (AKA Scott Pilgrim: The Anime)

I already did a post about this show back in November 23 2023 but need I say more about this show?

Unlike with Superman and Owl House which I have praised but haven't watched yet, I did actually watch the first episode of Scott Pilgrim but that was because I needed something to occupy myself while I was upgrading my PC's Graphics Card. The idea of diverting away from the Source Material may take some getting used to but regardless, Scott Pilgrim takes off is one of the best pieces of animation to date because instead of Puppet-Rigs, the creative team wisely chose to outsource half the production and the entire animation to SCIENCE SARU in Tokyo, Japan and I have said before, ANIME IS THE FUTURE OF WORLDWIDE ANIMATION.

Guillermo Del Toro's Pinocchio

Yes, I know this film was from December 2022 but I decided to put it here because as far as I know, Disney's Live-Action Remake of Pinocchio was terrible so Del Toro managed to right a wrong and release his own STOP-MOTION version of it. And to make things better, he placed the setting of the film in FACIST ITALY so if you haven't watched this amazing flick, prepare for scenes where the titular puppet has to fight Mussolini.

But really what makes me want to praise this film even more is Guillermo Del Toro's immortal words about his view of Animation:

Great choice of words Del Toro. 

If only the animation studios and the Academy were to listen to your words then the industry wouldn't be in the mess are in now.... sigh.....

The Super Mario Bros. Movie

This film absolutely triumphed over all odds and became one of the biggest successes of this year after mixed opinions arose over Chris Pratt casting. 

Criticisms against Chris Pratt aside, this was a rather unexpected hit for a film based on Nintendo's property and one to actually succeed as an American Produced film when most other film/tv properties from based on Nintendo I.P that succeeded are either from the Pokémon or Kirby Franchises.

But the real star of the film is BOWSER.

I never expected Jack Black to be the perfect Bowser but he sure nailed the performance of his character, especially with how he handles Bowser trying to suppress his rage as well as his performance of Bowser when his rage explodes...

But mostly what people are going to remember Bowser for is his song PEACHES which became an unexpected hit in the music scene....

Makes sense since Jack Black is a musician after all.

While I didn't watch the film in theaters when it came out, I did watch it on Computer Monitors at my local London Drugs and I may get the chance to watch it in full on Netflix since they added it to the catalogue on December 3 2023.

Nimona

I have heard about this film and reading about it on LinkedIn. 

I haven't seen it yet but it's sure bound to be a blast. Yet it's CGI but I really dig the cel-shaded visuals to properly convey that EYVIND EARLE aesthetic.

From what I heard, I was almost shelved due to Disney folding Blue-Sky Studios and demanding the film not be released under their umbrella...... 

GODDAMNIT BOB CHAPEK.....

Fortunately, the film was rescued by Netflix. 

I admit, just like you viewers, I may be critical of Netflix's recent treatment with animation on their own platform but compared to Zaslav's attitude towards Warner's own property, Netflix did a marvelous job at finally giving this film the release it deserved as well as the acclaim it brought.

Disney's One Upon a Studio

While I wasn't impressed with how the company bungled it's centennial with WISH amongst other things in the company, I'm more impressed with this short film they made where Disney Characters take a tour of their parent company during closing hours in an effort to properly celebrate 100 years of the Company.

To me, I like how they managed to bring back many of it's older 2D Animated characters in their original hand-drawn form which is actually necessary in order to mingle with both their CGI and Live-Action co-stars.

And get this, no WACOM CINTIQS were used during the creation of the 2D animated scenes. All 2D animation was done on Pencil and Paper before being transferred to Toon Boom Harmony.

How's that for authenticity.

Speaking about former Disney animators, How about Andreas Deja's MUSHKA

Andreas Deja managed to strike gold with this heartwarming tale about a 1970s Ukrainian Girl's affection for her pet tiger but when biology strikes like a day for the tiger, she must chose whether to keep her pet or set him free.

A story this heartwarming, especially during the ongoing Ukrainian Crisis, can only be told as an independent film and Andreas Deja chose the right path.

And to end this Award for the year, how about a web cartoon:

THE AMAZING DIGITAL CIRCUS

This took me by surprise. Normally a YouTube cartoon often doesn't get this kind of recognition due to other Youtubers such as AVGN, Nostalgia Critic, Gamers Nexus, LGR, JAYZTWOCENTS, etc often getting recognition but THE AMAZING DIGITAL CIRCUS is just an excellent premise for a promising series about being trapped in a VR world that I could not pass this up.

As of now, it's only one episode but It's free to watch on YouTube so check it out.

True Fact: The plot mirrors Harlan Ellison's 

I HAVE NO MOUTH AND I MUST SCREAM.

So while 2023 was rough for all of us, at least I can close this year with positive thoughts and move on to a better 2024 with better expectations.

Sorry for cherry-picking my choices for content to cover on this Year-End Post.

I really wanted to cover Elemental, The Boy and the Heron, Captain Laserhawk, TMNT Mutant Mayhem, Pokémon Horizons, just to name a few. 

But just like with jobhunting, competition is pretty high.......

But anyway, Happy New Year.