Movies are a staple of human entertainment. They have evolved over many years to get to where they are now. Something that people have always wondered, though, is which better: animated or live action?
Animated
“Animation is better as it has more effort put into it than live action, depending on the type of animation, like 2D,” says senior Kyla Gatlin.
Animated movies grant access to creative freedom beyond the restraints of live action. Animated films can appeal to people for an extraordinarily long time, unlike live action movies that eventually get outdated. It gains more favor because of its unique imaginative appeal , depending on the style of animation, like Traditional ( hand -drawn frame by frame or cel animation), 2D ( two-dimensional visuals created digitally or traditionally, often used in cartoons /animated series and allowing for a wide range of tones), 3D ( uses CGI, i.e., computer-generated imagery for three-dimensional settings and characters, allowing for an in-depth realistic style that’s flexible for animators to create intricate worlds and characters), Stop-Motion ( frame- by-frame photographs of puppets and/or objects to create a façade of movement, presenting an aesthetic appearance to audiences), and Motion Graphics ( combining graphic elements often used in title sequences, adverts, and informational videos to engage the audience).
In some cases, animators use mixed media of each kind. Animated movies create an engaging surreal element. They can eliminate expensive equipment and materials to reduce costs in filmmaking. Animated movies are easier to control, especially visuals, to ensure a consistent effect and style throughout production. Animated movies can still provide emotional depth even without real-life actors.
For example, Bambi, Toy Story, Frozen, The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Lego Movie, and Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
Live Action
“I prefer live action because usually the movie is longer and you get a better acting performance, not just voice acting like in animated movies,” says senior Marcus Massengale
Live action movies focus on realism to delve into viewers’ emotions through the portrayal of interactions and feelings only a human can express, while animated movies struggle to do the same. Some inspiring creativity is put into live action. To a degree, it can be more cost-effective as it doesn’t require the same amount of time and resources that animation does. There is flexibility in filming that allows editors to modify the film later to adjust or organize reshoots to enhance the final product. Actors starring in live action can gain credibility, as their faces become well-known visually, unlike animated movies, where recognition is based primarily on their voices. It attempts to portray itself as trustworthy and recalls locations they film at to further enhance popularity.
For example, Batman, Forrest Gump, Interstellar, Jumanji (old and new), and The Truman Show.
Ultimately, which type of movie is best is a subjective preference. Although animated movies might have more charm, live action can appeal with its visuals.
