I occasionally search video stores and archives to get a copy of animation made in Europre for the past several decades. At first I thought it would be easy to find it here in America as we have more resources here. The thing is it's really difficult to get a copy of European animations. Several friends of mine in Europe help me to get those at a pricey sum.

I've got deeply interested in animations (of both traditional method and computer generated) for the past several years, and tried to see it professional's point of view. There's more diversity in European animations (abbreviated EA bolow) than those of American animations (abbreviated AA below); and I keep wondering why EA has not been popular and has been hard to get here in America.

After serious look at the animation industries in Los Angeles and some European countries, I found that each side has different method and objective in making animation. They see animation differently. Animation is made of sequential pictures. That is shared, but on why and how the animation is conveyed there's no common ground other than they need to sell more tickets.

Animation is more of an artistic expression in Europe; while in America it's an way of expressions mostly for the commercial purpose. Sponsors for the AA have object other than animation itself such as character licensing which will eventually get more profit than from the animation itself. If one promoter finds one character which he wants to sell, he will probably commission an artist to make a cartoon or an animation so that that character gets popularity. If that succeeds, he then license that character for commercial products for the advertising purpose.

In America, buying power is far more greater than that of Europe combined. So sponsors can attract more animators to commission work; animators take that opportunities whether they are genuinely interested in it or not, as they have to make a living first. Even if an artist enjoys his work, he can work only up to what sponsor expect and pay for. An sponsor invest only up to way how it will appeal to people who will be motivated to purchase the product.

EA is more diverse in style and content; it's more refreshing and eye-pleasing. I prefer to see EA over AA if I can locate it. In America, artists are trained in different perspective from European counterpart. I lived the first half of my life in Korea appreciating European arts and animations; I can't tell how artists here appreciate DA even though I've lived the other half here. Although I've been swarmed by AA as I live here, I still prefer EA. I can't change my taste.

As for American animators, they need to fulfill the taste of their audience, which has far more commerical profits than the rest of the world combined. They don't need to look for anywhere else, but just around them where they live and work.

When I looked more deeply into the animation industry, I found myself stuck in idealogy and reality. My taste and training is set. The idealogy is that I like EA style and tried to immitate EA styles while in training; the reality is EA is not appreciated at all here in LA. To work in animation industry, I'll have to work the way the sponsor want me to produce. Keeping idealogy means no commissions, thus not being appreciated at all.

My terminology for idealogy and reality is not adequate expression, but you can grab what I want to say. There's also business affairs, story telling, collaboration of animators and artistic style to be discusses in great details to differential EA and AA.

Disney's animations influenced me a lot when I was a kid in shaping the worldview keeping dreams about unkowns and imaginations for the future. After I became an adult, I doubt the goodness of Disney's animations, especially the story-telling. It twisted the historical facts and ethical rightness. I became more and more critical on Disney's animations. Even so, I still marvel at Disney's animation techniques ending up saying "it's well done"; and I can't forget the enjoyable time watching Disney's animations.

There's a bunch of TV toons on American TV which also dominates the kid's TV time around the world. I seldom watch those and can't deny it's still a fun to watch occasionally. It's aimed primarily for kids, but I find it themes are adult oriented.

As for short animated films, EA are dominant over AA, in numbers in statistical sense and relational ratios of total numbers of produced animations. It's really hard to see short animated films in America, which seldom put on theaters or TV.

What I found out is that if I make 10 minute short animated films, I'll probably have to find a way to show in Europe rather than in America as there's almost no way to show it. In Europe it's easier to find a way to show and get appreciation or despise by others. With Hoolywood/TV toon style animation, one can't grab interests from European audience and critique. I met many animators and artists turned to Hollywood style and commercial animations from their genuine interests. I'll have to include myself into in that list.

As for EA style, mostly short animations, I like the aesthetic side of European style; it's rich, diverse, stimulating and refreshing all the time. It's definitely suits Daniel's personal taste. All the above said is a matter of taste, not the right or wrong question.

I just scratched the surface of two different styles of animations. The real thing can't be said as it's trade secrets. I might be able to discuss with colleagues to make business decisions, but not for the public outcry. I wrote down something which I murmured for the past several days to keep it a record for myself. When this one is to be revised within the next several months, I want to see it as a reference point.

(June 16, 1998)