With all the talk of animation we have been doing in class, I began to consider my youth, which seemed to be full of glorious animation. Yes, during the earlier stages of my life, it was as though animation was everywhere. Television shows on Nickelodeon, the beginning of Cartoon Network, as well as many fantastic animated films created by Disney were some of the highlights of my younger years. Lately, though, there seems to be a negative trend. Gone are the hand-drawn cartoon films of Disney, Nickelodeon seems to be attempting to appeal to the teenage (girl) demographic, and Cartoon Network appears to embrace computer-generated animation, japanese cartoons with only about 15 minutes of animation for a 30 minute show (with the rest replaced with flashy backgrounds), and even attempted to have live action shows. Let me repeat that, for those who don't understand - CARTOON NETWORK WAS THINKING OF NOT HAVING CARTOONS. Isn't that ridiculous?

Instead, animation now-a-days tends to belong to the camps of computer animation, with CG the top ranking choice. However, most of the trials, at least in my mind, seem to be ... well, honestly, not too hot. It's very disappointing to see concepts of what could be brilliantly and fluidly animated with the tried-and-true methods of yesteryear wasted on stiff, wooden characters who look like they were created by a middle schooler using Alice. At the very least, Cartoon Network seems to be still offering decent, new cartoon shows - all Nickelodeon seems to do is re-run SpongeBob SquarePants until their new episode of "Teenage Girl Comedy Hour" is prepared (Not to say that SpongeBob is terrible... I personally love it, but I can only take SO much... ).

As well as all this, Disney seems to be getting the message, as they plan to release a new, traditionally animated movie entitled "The Princess and the Frog". Call me names if you must, but I know I'll be going to see it.