Pixar loves 3D. Except when it loves 2D

http://www.riskybusinessblog.com/2009/05/up-john-lasseter-cannes.html

By Steven Zeitchik

John Lasseter loves 3D animation and all the 21st century technology. Or is it hand-drawn animation and all the 50's technology?

A room that started out tepid at the opening-day press conference in Cannes for Pixar's "Up" warmed up when the Pixar chief creative officer closed the press conference with an impassioned, three-minute monologue on the importance of storytelling and character in animated films -- exactly what the French/Belgian/German media needed to hear.

Before that, Lasseter was passionate -- in his Hawaiian shirt, jes'-regular-folks sort of way -- about the prospects and value of 3D if it's used properly.

"In 3D sometimes, when you do all the 'coming at you' stuff and everyone laughs and they're out of the story. So we tried to restrict that. But I think 3D is a fantastic device to get you into the story that much more."

And then, feeling the 3D groove, this bold statement:

"All our films from here on in will be made in 3D, both here and at Disney Animation Studios."

Fair enough. It's the future, as all the glasses-loving people tell us, and he's got what will surely be one of the big 3D moneymakers of the year.

But then later, asked about the future of animation, Lasseter gave this unexpected response.

"What I'm excited is Disney bringing back hand drawn animation. They kept saying audiences don't want to want to watch 2D movies. They don't want to watch bad movies. 2D became the scapegoat for bad movies."

Then: "We're bringing back 2D animation," citing Disney Animation's holiday release of the more traditional, hand-drawn pic "The Princess and the Frog."

"What's old is new again for audience who haven't felt this kind of film before," he said. "It will get stronger and stronger in next few years."

So it's all about the three-dimensional, glasses-friendly digital future.

Or about those meticulously drawn sketches you remember from being a kid.