Pixar vs. Dreamworks

*Originally published on 2/20/12



When it comes to animated films as of late, there are two studios that immediately come to mind: Pixar and Dreamworks. Now, many people are quick to praise Pixar, rightfully so as they do great work, but this also leads to a feeling of bitterness towards Dreamworks. Some people go so far as to say that they can't stand the studio.

I will be quick to admit that I think that Pixar is the better of the two, I don't think the studio warrants the ill will that it gets. By and large, they produce good movies. They may not be as poignant or artistic as some of Pixar's recent work, but they are highly entertaining.

I haven't seen the film myself, but I have heard nothing but good things about The Prince of Egypt. You're welcome to write this off as hearsay (as that's what it is), but it's supposed to be a very well crafted film.

The more recent movies to tend to put more of a focus on silliness, but that's not a bad thing per se. Movies are meant to entertain. There's nothing wrong with a little over the top escapism. I defy you to watch Over the Hedge, Madagascar, or Flushed Away and not crack a smile. I don't think it can be done. The movies embrace the fun of animation and make films that can be enjoyed by the whole family; I can't fault them for that.

Granted, not every movie succeeds on the level of those films, but by and large, the movies do what they set out to do. No studio can bat a thousand, so the occasional dud from time to time should be forgiven. Then again, their more recent films have gotten more praise as of late. How to Train Your Dragon and Megamind both have dedicated fandoms and have been well received by critics.

I think that Dreamworks' biggest problem is their rush to turn everything into a franchise. Ever since Shrek, all of the big names in Dreamworks' library were given sequels. Granted, Shrek 2 turned out to be pretty good, but they really beat that idea into the ground, putting out two more movies, several television specials, and a planned spin off film.

A sequel to Madagascar was also made and a third film is being made as we speak. The first film was quite a bit of fun, but I honestly don't see how you make that into a trilogy. Oh, and there's talk of a spin off movie for this series featuring the penguins.

There are also plans to release sequels to both Kung-fu Panda and the recent How to Train Your Dragon. Admittedly, both of these movies were very well received, but not every good movie needs a sequel. On the contrary, the fact that you can let a story end and let a film stand on its own would probably be seen as more admirable.

You might be able to get away with one sequel from time to time, but when you push things to the extent that they have, they're bound to lose their charm. It also becomes more apparent that the primary focus is trying to find a cash cow to milk as opposed to just putting out good content.

Despite this not so subtle setback, they have managed to produce several entertaining movies that make for a great afternoon out (or in if you're renting). Their eagerness to push a franchise is vexing, but there are still plenty of things to like about the studio. They may not topple Pixar as the king of modern animated films, but I think that they do deserve more credit than they get.