Computer Animation: Future of Cartoons

One of the issues that concern me these days is the future of cartoons. Are we going to see computer animated cartoons only? Will there ever be hand drawn animated movies like before? Are these days gone forever?

The reason why I chose this issue to talk with you about is because of some observations, or comments that I have concerning computer animation. Well I don't claim to have seen all computer animated movies of course, but let's say I saw 40 or 50% of them and based on that I came with the following conclusions.

Most of the advantages of computer animation are related to the visual side-the graphics and stuff. Most of the negatives, however, are related to the content of such cartoons:

1. Computer animated movies are more visually attractive and can even expand the cartoons audience to include adults or grown ups as well
2. One of the pros of computer animated is that it puts the viewer into the movie as if he is in the middle of the events (thanks to 3D graphics)
3. Also, cartoon characters that are computer-designed seem more appealing, because you can see every detail of their features

A negative side however is that:
1. Many of the computer animated films concentrate on the graphics and impressing the audience with the latest techniques that are visually stunning and in return, the story plot is being abandoned sometimes or not as skillfully made as the visuals and graphics. A visually stunning movie with a weak story plot does not make a good cartoon movie in my opinion.
2. Also, many computer animated movies lack the emotional or human side not like traditional animated movies that are more concerned with the script and storyline. Rarely, would you find heart breaking stories such as Bambi or Pinocchio in a computer animated movie, maybe because such movies reflect our age today where cinema audiences want more visuals and graphics and are less interested in a highly emotional plot. Of course, there are exceptions such as Chicken Run or Finding Nemo, two computer animated movies that are very well written.

Or is it the fact that such computer movies are so visually attractive that they dominate over a really good story but we only get to notice the graphics because they are so catchy?

The coming years will answer that question..