So, DC is starting a new, shared universe. And I like that. But, after the flop that was Green Lantern, I have some thoughts on it. I know it's too late to stop, but...I have a few reasons as to why the DCCU should be animated. And no, not CGI animated. I'm talking about hand-drawn animated.
Reason #1: It's their strong spot.
Let's face it. DC is better at making animated films than they are at making live action ones. If it weren't for Chris Nolan, where would they be? Okay, maybe a darker, but still fantasy based Batman reboot, but...okay. Has anyone seen Young Justice? Has anyone seen Batman: The Animated Series? Both are great shows. Now, imagine those, but as full-length feature films. Take Batman: Sub-Zero, but one step farther. It's great, isn't it? Marvel, well...Marvel has wowed us with The Spectacular Spider-Man and Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, but they haven't wowed me as much as BTAS and STAS. If we can take that greatness of DC animation, and make feature films out of them, we really should.
Reason #2: They did it before, they can do it again.
Remember the late 90's and early 2000's? Those were great. We had Batman The Animated Series, Superman The Animated Series, Justice League, Batman Beyond, and Justice League Unlimited. Those shows were all connected, and that universe was called the DCAU. And DC, you pulled it off flawlessly. Each of these shows were fantastic in their own way. BTAS was dark, but still fantasy based. STAS was lighthearted, but dark when it had to be. I could go on, but I'll stop here. Now, we could take the DCAU, and mold it into the DCCU! DC, I swear, if you do this, treat the movies not as movies. Treat them as super long, one villain episodes of the characters series. It would be great.
Reason #3: It would be so much easier.
Hand-drawn animation is cheaper than huge amounts of CGI. And sometimes, CGI looks horrible. Green Lantern, I'm looking at you. It managed to use who knows how much CGI, and we got these things:
It's horrible. Now, hand drawn animation does require some CGI here and there, but not excessive CGI. Also, if you're designing a superhero costume for a superhero movie, that is live action, it can't be skin-tight spandex. Oh no. Green Lantern tried to take an easy, alternate route. It tried to make the costume flashy, bright, and completely CGI. No. As said above, CGI can look horrible.
Ugh. Now, I'm not saying completely, that making the DCCU animated would be and easy, alternate route. I'm saying that it would be easier, because it would be hard to mess up. DC is a pro at animation. You can treat it as live action for dialogue. The designs, and the characters would be so much better. You can use spandex on Superman, not a scaly costume. You can create a huge sense of disbelief. Things are easier to believe in animation. How else could people completely go with a crocodile man, with white scales, an always open jaw, yellow eyes, and the same pair of blue jeans, could possibly exist? Exactly.
Overall, animation makes a larger sense of disbelief, has a better budget, is safer to use, would be hard to mess up in DC's hands, and overall, allows heroes to wear the costumes they deserve. Remember. This:
Not this:
Until next time,
Comiccow6.