I start to get a little worried when words like "revolutionary" and "groundbreaking" are thrown around for anything, but most especially when it comes to art and animation. Too many expectations, and all the technology in the world doesn't really mean squat since both are such subjective things. If the people don't like the finished product, who cares how much went into producing it? So when word first started to break a couple of months ago about Disney's animated short, Paperman, and the early buzz was so glowing, I just took it with a grain of salt.
Now a poster and the plot have been revealed for the film, which will hopefully be seen in front of Wreck-It-Ralph on November 2nd. It's described as a mix of computer animation and Disney's tried 'n true hand drawn style, which they've been attempting to revive for years with moderate success. John Kahrs, who worked on Disney's Tangled, is directing, probably a good choice considering that film's hybrid technique. Paperman, at least from the above image, is aiming for an old school, vintage newsreel look that is pretty cool. The story sounds like a simple tale of a man chasing the girl of his dreams, and as the below synopsis reveals, he'll use his imagination as a means of achieving it....
PLOT: Introducing a groundbreaking technique that seamlessly merges computer-generated and hand-drawn animation techniques, first-time director John Kahrs takes the art of animation in a bold new direction with “Paperman.” Using a minimalist black-and-white style, the short follows the story of a lonely young man in mid-century New York City, whose destiny takes an unexpected turn after a chance meeting with a beautiful woman on his morning commute. Convinced the girl of his dreams is gone forever, he gets a second chance when he spots her in a skyscraper window across the avenue from his office. With only his heart, imagination and a stack of papers to get her attention, his efforts are no match for what the fates have in store for him. Created by a small, innovative team working at Walt Disney Animation Studios, “Paperman” pushes the animation medium in an exciting new direction.
