What are some advatages that Animation has over Live Action?

G

Goofs

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DISCLAIMER: This is not about which medium is the best or anything like that. More about the aspects which give animation validity.

Basically one thing that gave animation an advantage in the storytelling department is that you could make even the most fictional/fantasy visuals seem real (as opposed to the shark on Jaws). Some have said, however, that with the improvements made on special effects, that animation's visual aspects are obsolete.

I still say that the medium has it's advantages despite LA having better special effects:

1. More accurate designs on super heroes and certain video game characters: Certain video games (Super Mario Bros) are too out there to be taken seriously in live action, as well as certain super hero costumes being too weird for live action movies thus having to establish a story reason for certain costumes without changing them (such as Magneto needing a "dorky helment" to protect his mind from telepathic mutants and Cerebro).

Cartoons on the other hand can pull of the less than realistic video game characters/designs and colorful costumes without them looking weird/odd.

2. No stunts: Action centric cartoons being a drawing don't require any danger on the part of the voice actor. Only danger I can think of is a bee or a spider somehow finding a way into the voice actor's throat or said voice actor falling off their seat.

3. Character stays even when actor departs: When an actor leaves a Live Action show, the character goes with them or they get an actor with similar physical traits (which even then the differences are obvious). Voice actors don't pose that problem since it's easier to sound like someone than to look like someone. Especially handy when trying to keep certain characters in the story (Iroh from Avatar comes to mind).

4. Voice actors can afford more flexability: Things like minor injury or pregnancy can delay shootings for a good number of days thus having to write a character out of the show for a while. But since VAs are heard, but not seen, they can resume voice actor while immobile or don't look right for the camera.


Anymore advantages or comments on mind will be appreciated.
 
Animation is best for outrageous/over-the-top action (such as Justice League or DBZ) and "cartoony" (for lack of a better word) comedies, like Fairy Odd Parents, and anthromorphic shows (Sonic the Hedgehog, Spongebob, etc)

Live-action for drama and realistic series that are grounded more in reality (like 24, Lost, Veronica Mars, etc)

Some don't really matter, like average sitcoms which can be done in either medium, and Hollywood budgets can make a lot of stuff work in live-action, like Pirates of the Caribbean and Star Wars, but I assume we're talking about television only.
 
You really think sitcoms work that better in animation than dramas? There's more animated sitcoms than animated dramas, I'll give you that, but that doesn't mean the medium is better suited for sitcoms. If the sitcoms are on the "cartoony" side of things (i.e. The Simpsons, Futurama, Family Guy), animation can be an advantage, but something like King of the Hill would be much better with live actors.
 
In animation, you are unlimited in what you can do. You can literally do anything in animation. It can be used for any genre and you can put animated characters in any situation you want.
You are only limited by how skilled you are as an artist or how skilled your team of artists is.
 
I used to think that too, but somehow, "King of the Hill" needs to be animated. It does get a little outlandish at times, and if it were in live action, I don't think the audience would buy it, but it's more than just that. I think just because the show is drawn realistically, that doesn't necessarily mean it would work outside of the animated medium.
 
Eh? I said sitcoms could work in either medium.

"Some don't really matter, like average sitcoms which can be done in either medium"

But yes, it depends on if its cartoony or realistic like you said. I think it all depends where we draw the line between sitcom and drama. I was thinking of stuff like Wildfire and other "soap operas" for drama, stuff with little comedy. Something like Drake and Josh and All Grown Up for sitcom examples.
 
Animation can do drama, yes, but it lacks the advantages live-action has when it comes to subtle human expressions and emotions, and other stuff like budget and animation/art quality and consistency. Each medium is advantageous for certain things.
 
Animated characters can look like anything, while with live action it may take tons of makeup and special effects. That's all I can come up with.
 
Not all the time. Pregnancies and other stuff could leave a VA out of the office for a number of days. I mean, (using One Piece as an example), Robin's seiyuu had to be replaced (for a small bit) since she had was on maternity leave and Chopper's Seiyuu was temp. replaced because Ohtani got sick.
 
-In animation, you don't have to pay for special effects, just draw and animate them.

-In animation, the laws of reality are allowed to be bent. You can have talking animals, fantasy creatures such as witches, fairies, robots or space aliens, interacting with humans and no makeup or costumes are required.

-Since animated characters are drawn, they're not subject to physical laws. You don't have to worry about a female character getting pregnant during production, or an actor getting sick or dieing during production.

-In movies, toons can't hold out for more money when you want to make a sequel (although voice actors can).
 
Characters can stay the same age forever in animation.
This sidesteps the 'what happens when the kids in the show are no longer cute?' problem that The Brady Bunch and many other shows have had to deal with.

Think about it-Bart Simpson should be about 30 by now, and Maggie should be a junior in college.
 
You can have characters visit different locales without having to travel to that place everytime (and finding a place that you're allowed to film in) you want to have an episode/plot. Also, characters can drive cars/boats/tanks/planes, etc without having to spend money on designing one or putting the expense into one.
 
Compare Mamuro Oshii's animated efforts to his live action work.

His animated film, Jin Roh, features a really interesting world whith clashes of German and Japanese influences. There's also some really cool designs, like the powersuits. This could be done in live action, but it would require some expensive set design or CG.

The live action sequel to Jin Roh, red spectacles, doesn't have a high budget. Because of this the Power armour just looks plasticy, and the world just looks like... Modern day Japan.

Animation is cheaper.
 
That only applies in Japan, I don't think either Tara Strong or Grey Delisle got a lot of time off when they were preggers.
 
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