Ep. 6: Animated Films Must Evolve to Stay Relevant

2016 was a massive year for animated films with the genre representing 5 of the top 10 grossing films in the US. But are heightened financial expectations squashing creativity within the imaginative form? To get the answer Rob sits down with veteran animated filmmakers, Director Tom McGrath (Madagascar, Megamind, Boss Baby) and Producer Ramsey Ann Naito (Boss Baby, South Park). The three discuss the challenge of making films that will appeal to both kids and adults (2:20), what they learned during their early days working in adult animation (6:00), and the reason why all animated movies are starting to look the same (8:25). They also chat about what's drawing directors like Wes Anderson and Charlie Kaufman into the animated realm (10:50), why, unfortunately, animated films are seen as babysitting tools (13:30), and why the form needs to evolve beyond "talking animals and appliances" in order to stay relevant (20:20)