So i just saw Sausage Party today and I can say it was a good movie, like many that saw the trailer I thought it was just gonna be a film that rode on the "look its a cartoon but we're swearing and making sex jokes!" hype purely; while it is a vulgar comedy in line with most of Seth Rogan's stuff it at least has a good spread of jokes and knows that some of its more one note ones are good for one use and then move on from them (a notable example being the German spread product that look like nazis and want to exterminate the juice). It's plot is actual kinda interesting, having some attempts at religous allegories and sexual taboos (though the latter I feel tries to get applied broadly towards the end of the film despite seeming to only apply to one set of characters), it kept me invested enough that I left the theatre not with regret but with a slight urge to rewatch it with friends if they asked.
Now onto the real meat of this discussion, animation for older audiences (i'd say adult/mature animation but that just sounds like I'm talking about porn). I appreciate what Sausage Party is trying to push, that is: animation on the big screen doesn't have to be family friendly to be profitable and with the numbers its doing ($33m made from a budget of $19m) I'd say it's somewhat proved it. BUT, its not for everyone, like I said before its a vulgar humour comedy and I know a lot of people wouldn't recommend it to someone as a convincing way of saying "no, look, cartoon movies arent just for kids." without coming across as juvenile in some way. Sausage Party has set the stage I feel, now its time for other animated movies aimed at older audiences to come in ad fill that stage with variety.
My questions to you fellow Escapists: Did you see Sausage Party? What do you think of it? What would you like to see next when it comes to animation for older audiences? Are there any other films in this category you'd recommend?
EDIT: I'm focusing more on theatrical releases (not discrediting animated shows like Bojack Horseman, Rick and Morty etc, this is just a focus more on cinema), mostly from western studios. Yes I'm aware Japanese animation has more movies and shows with mature themes, but I'm keeping my focus more on the West due to the stigma of animation still being seen mostly as children's entertainment, on the big screen anyway.
Answering the third question, personally I'd like to see an action animated movie, something that doesn't shy from the violence without being to over the top, so something along the lines of what you'd find in a shounen animation, BUT, I'd want this to be a western animation, not out sourced to Korea or Japan to animate, those guys are kinda already known for that. Another thing I wouldn't want, despite knowing that it would probably bring in the most audiences numbers, is for it to be a DC or Marvel movie, mostly because I feel like execs would probably want it to be family friendly somehow to get even more mainstream appeal; only exception I can think of is maybe Blade, have a 4th Blade movie or reboot the series cause I know Hollywood love that shit and have it be animated.
Now onto the real meat of this discussion, animation for older audiences (i'd say adult/mature animation but that just sounds like I'm talking about porn). I appreciate what Sausage Party is trying to push, that is: animation on the big screen doesn't have to be family friendly to be profitable and with the numbers its doing ($33m made from a budget of $19m) I'd say it's somewhat proved it. BUT, its not for everyone, like I said before its a vulgar humour comedy and I know a lot of people wouldn't recommend it to someone as a convincing way of saying "no, look, cartoon movies arent just for kids." without coming across as juvenile in some way. Sausage Party has set the stage I feel, now its time for other animated movies aimed at older audiences to come in ad fill that stage with variety.
My questions to you fellow Escapists: Did you see Sausage Party? What do you think of it? What would you like to see next when it comes to animation for older audiences? Are there any other films in this category you'd recommend?
EDIT: I'm focusing more on theatrical releases (not discrediting animated shows like Bojack Horseman, Rick and Morty etc, this is just a focus more on cinema), mostly from western studios. Yes I'm aware Japanese animation has more movies and shows with mature themes, but I'm keeping my focus more on the West due to the stigma of animation still being seen mostly as children's entertainment, on the big screen anyway.
Answering the third question, personally I'd like to see an action animated movie, something that doesn't shy from the violence without being to over the top, so something along the lines of what you'd find in a shounen animation, BUT, I'd want this to be a western animation, not out sourced to Korea or Japan to animate, those guys are kinda already known for that. Another thing I wouldn't want, despite knowing that it would probably bring in the most audiences numbers, is for it to be a DC or Marvel movie, mostly because I feel like execs would probably want it to be family friendly somehow to get even more mainstream appeal; only exception I can think of is maybe Blade, have a 4th Blade movie or reboot the series cause I know Hollywood love that shit and have it be animated.
