Cartoon Aesthetic


It looks like films which attempt an overtly colourful or cartoony aesthetic tend not to do well.

Pluto Nash
Super Mario Bros.
Speed Racer
Dick Tracy
The Spirit
Batman and Robin

Visuals aside, these films have writing, performance and tonal issues, so I don't think their failures can be solely attributed to the aesthetic choices, however, it does seem to be consistently true that if you go for a colourful or strong cartoon-look in a live action film, you're not helping its chances of success.

What others are there? Are there also successful examples? Sin City and 300, maybe?

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Superman directed by Donner and staring Reeve did well because it remained true to the spirit of the character. That, and people kind of wanted there to be a Superman. Also, there was enough Superman story and character material that people knew who he was.

That verse Speed Racer which should have been a no-brainer to NOT bring to the big screen in a live action film. Only a segment of males had seen it growing up, and not anime fans as defined today.

Someone really dropped the ball on market research on this one because the Speed Racer fan was a middle aged male POSSIBLY with a family. But he doesn't have lots of contemporary anime titles, and certainly doesn't force his family to indulge in his visual media tastes.

This film shows just how ignorant and arrogant both producers and directors were to make this travisty.

Like I said in my review, if I had been given the project, then I would have simply just made a speed race feature length cartoon with high production values.

But the cost would not have been worth it, as only anime or animation fans would have seen it. I'm guessing it's why the producers shot for a live action film to recoup the cost.

But if you follow the logic on the thinking, then by all reason they should have put the brakes on there, unless they believed it a worthy project that would make money in the long run by being a quality film. Cest la vie.

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