I'm not discussing the plot here, just the design. This post may contain spoilers...
As an artist I found the opening scenes breathtaking. I was stunned at the realism and detail in all the backgrounds. I felt I could drink the clear water in the river near the farm and the mountain that was so important in the story was waiting for me to climb it. The artwork was awesome in the true sense of the word. It was a showcase for what can now be done in animation.
However, I found the contrast between the environment and the dinosaurs too great. Arlo and his family were too cartoon like to sit comfortably in their surroundings and I wonder if it would have been better to step back a bit from the background detail, adding less there while adding a little more realism to the characters.
There were other details in the film, that I loved. When you first meet the T-Rex family - pseudo cowboys - you can see where every part of their characterisation has been thought through. The father's eyes are so shaded by his brow, it's as though he was wearing a stetson. When they ran after their cattle, they gave the wonderfully clear impression of moving their hind quarters like the back end of a horse, while their upper bodies remained as relaxed and rhythmic as any rider. They were a joy to watch.
The reintroduction of Thunderclap and his fellow pterodactyls was inspired - a reverse shark fin coming down through the clouds above. I could hear the Jaws music. Brilliantly done.
As an artist I found the opening scenes breathtaking. I was stunned at the realism and detail in all the backgrounds. I felt I could drink the clear water in the river near the farm and the mountain that was so important in the story was waiting for me to climb it. The artwork was awesome in the true sense of the word. It was a showcase for what can now be done in animation.
However, I found the contrast between the environment and the dinosaurs too great. Arlo and his family were too cartoon like to sit comfortably in their surroundings and I wonder if it would have been better to step back a bit from the background detail, adding less there while adding a little more realism to the characters.
There were other details in the film, that I loved. When you first meet the T-Rex family - pseudo cowboys - you can see where every part of their characterisation has been thought through. The father's eyes are so shaded by his brow, it's as though he was wearing a stetson. When they ran after their cattle, they gave the wonderfully clear impression of moving their hind quarters like the back end of a horse, while their upper bodies remained as relaxed and rhythmic as any rider. They were a joy to watch.
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