The Rise and Fall of Animated Film in the West

Abstract

This thesis explores the decline of hand-drawn animated films in the Western mainstream media, focusing on the case of Walt Disney Animation Studios and their shift towards computer-animated films. The aim is to understand the factors that led to the discontinuation of 2D animated films and the underperformance of these films compared to 3D animated films at the box office. The methodology includes secondary research, utilizing a range of sources including books, scholarly articles, and interviews with Pixar co-founders. Box office sales data is analyzed to compare the performance of 2D and 3D animated films. The analysis also examines the evolution of animation techniques and the success factors behind Pixar's Toy Story. Additionally, a design project targeting Western media consumers is presented. The findings shed light on the reasons behind the shift in audience preference and the impact of technology on animation production. Keywords: hand-drawn animation, computer animation, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar, box office performance, animation techniques