If the author knew that it's not the first animated graphic novel he would have perhaps also realize it's rather a bad idea.
Photo-comics, animated comics, interactive comics, CGI comics, comics with sounds - all that has been tried already.
All these "enhancements" are just gimmicks that don't expand the medium - on the contrary, they narrow it down to a crippled version of something else.
Just because nobody's done it right yet doesn't mean it can't be done. I'm surprised to see such a sentiment in these parts.
It wasn't until I read The Watchmen that I had found a graphic novel that couldn't have been done better as a movie or television series. Some art lives in its medium, some defines it. This may be a defining piece.
It appears that the animations are flavoring, not complete substance. From the trailer video it appears that only key panels are animated, which makes more sense to me in terms of adding value.
Far from a gimmick, it adds to the kinematic aesthetic; instead of motion lines and blurs, he is able to show us the action directly. Graphic novels and movies (or any filmed narrative) are approached in very similar ways; pacing, lighting, composition -- these are all core aspects of both. Will Eisner touches on this, if memory serves correctly, in the "Eisner/Miller" book.
Of course, all of this is speculation until we see the actual product; but if he approaches it in a manner similar to something like Magical Game Time[1], I believe it will be successful. I, for one, will be purchasing this.
Very cool - not sure if this is really the first animated graphic novel though. Some different, but similar things have come before. For example: http://www.cognitocomics.com/operationajax/
Operation Ajax is really fantastic - the fact you can explore around the story (browse through CIA files, photos, etc) really makes it a unique experience.
While beautifully executed, I fear that once the novelty wears off, such a mixed medium will be absorbed back into traditional animation.
Why split the story into different frames if one frame can show it all?
Maybe I'm a bit cynical, but to me this doesn't even sound as innovative.
To say it better, I don't think this will enhance the reader's experience, so maybe I see it more as eye candy (a well executed one, no doubt) than something really useful.
I just watched the trailer and came straight here to gush all over it with everyone else. It's an interesting idea, looks well impemented, has gorgeous artwork and animation. Amazing!
Then I see all the top comments are people pissing all over it. Does no one have a sense of excitement or wonder anymore?
At first animated graphic novel sounded like an anime to me. But that concept looks interesting. I am not so sure if it will actually be better. After all, is not an important part of reading a novel, or graphic novel to be immersed in the story and let ones creativity and visualisation flow to make the story a living experience in ones mind? If this supports that, it would be very great! On the other hand if an animated graphic novel would distract from the this, it would be very sad.
I very much like the old touch that it's given and it contrasts great with the new technology.
In the end, if this concept can lure some kids, who'd rather watch an anime than read, to read more. That would be quite an achievement!
Graphic novel is actually the "scholarly" term to refer to any kind of comics.
You might be thinking of Visual Novels, though, which is a genre mostly prevalent in Japan and thus very similar to Anime and Manga in style.
It looks really cool. I wish, however, that the overall ecosystem was easier to create these things cross platform rather than per-corporation. I don't really want three or four different devices so that I can read works on iPhones, Androids, Kindles, etc. In fact I don't even want a device, I already have a browser running on a screen.
The current ecosystem has the feel of the 1990s, when corporate web sites were walled off behind the AOL domain, although I admit that today's walled gardens are much shinier than AOL ever could have been.
This is the most beautiful thing I have seen in a long, long time. Exploiting new technology for newer forms of art, and story telling is super exciting! Definitely going to buy this one.
Thank you for sharing this -- I think while some may quibble about the merits of the headline, what excites me is that slowly the next chapter of comic books/sequential art/manga is coming to life. I've been researching "visual novels" which are a genre of games in Japan which aren't animated, but use anime characters and game design that's very much "choose your own adventure".
By the way if anyone is interested in the possibilities one may want to look at the CD-ROM era at two titles: Spaceship Warlock and Just Grandma and Me
Might be the first - I don't know. But as a lover of graphic novels, to me, this seems to be a great thing.
I wish all the best, good sales and good feedback to the creator. the new media-consuming-devices give us all the ability, to challenge traditional ways of delivering the message. so it really is nice to see new ways of doing things.
when the printing press first arrived, the letters were cut, to look like handwritten letters, just the way, books used to look all the centuries before. with time, the medium book changed, as more people realized, that the medium had changed and delivered new possibilities.
so let's celebrate the people pushing the frontier, trying new things and showing us coherent ways of using the new mediums.
So is the whole idea that each strip would be animated clips, and storyline would move in smaller clips?
The artwork definitely has a unique aesthetic to it. The level of detail is amazing.
Products like these, Numberlys, and other Mononbot studio products is showing us how media is going to evolve as the mode of consumption evolves. In my opinion this how you kill hollywood, by providing any talented team of individuals the ability to publish great products and reach millions.
I think you could at some levels say that "The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore" was in this medium (if you have not seen, definitely check out - ipad) although it was somewhat of a game hybrid and not paneled.
I honestly think the story looks great and think that a half hour of entertaining reading/art will easily be worth .99c
While it may not be the first animated graphic novel, the baseball animations are amazing. Not awkward or unnatural at all. Very fluid and exciting and so well done that it's not obvious how hard that must have been to get the body movements right.
If you like this and also like games, try out Imaginary Range on iOS and Android by Square Enix. It's half graphic novel (with animations and transitions, although perhaps not quite like the post) and half game.
[+] [-] bgarbiak|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] dclowd9901|14 years ago|reply
It wasn't until I read The Watchmen that I had found a graphic novel that couldn't have been done better as a movie or television series. Some art lives in its medium, some defines it. This may be a defining piece.
[+] [-] kingatomic|14 years ago|reply
Far from a gimmick, it adds to the kinematic aesthetic; instead of motion lines and blurs, he is able to show us the action directly. Graphic novels and movies (or any filmed narrative) are approached in very similar ways; pacing, lighting, composition -- these are all core aspects of both. Will Eisner touches on this, if memory serves correctly, in the "Eisner/Miller" book.
Of course, all of this is speculation until we see the actual product; but if he approaches it in a manner similar to something like Magical Game Time[1], I believe it will be successful. I, for one, will be purchasing this.
[1] http://magicalgametime.com
[+] [-] markbnine|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] scott_s|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] ssdsa|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] yread|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] sinak|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] joelanman|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] nsns|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] klez|14 years ago|reply
To say it better, I don't think this will enhance the reader's experience, so maybe I see it more as eye candy (a well executed one, no doubt) than something really useful.
[+] [-] ralfd|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jonny_eh|14 years ago|reply
Then I see all the top comments are people pissing all over it. Does no one have a sense of excitement or wonder anymore?
[+] [-] lucisferre|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] angerman|14 years ago|reply
I very much like the old touch that it's given and it contrasts great with the new technology.
In the end, if this concept can lure some kids, who'd rather watch an anime than read, to read more. That would be quite an achievement!
[+] [-] slowpoke|14 years ago|reply
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphic_novel https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visual_novel
[+] [-] read_wharf|14 years ago|reply
The current ecosystem has the feel of the 1990s, when corporate web sites were walled off behind the AOL domain, although I admit that today's walled gardens are much shinier than AOL ever could have been.
[+] [-] paraschopra|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] michaelpinto|14 years ago|reply
By the way if anyone is interested in the possibilities one may want to look at the CD-ROM era at two titles: Spaceship Warlock and Just Grandma and Me
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spaceship_Warlock
video of Just Grandma and Me http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9uyxPeY3qY
[+] [-] sdoering|14 years ago|reply
I wish all the best, good sales and good feedback to the creator. the new media-consuming-devices give us all the ability, to challenge traditional ways of delivering the message. so it really is nice to see new ways of doing things.
when the printing press first arrived, the letters were cut, to look like handwritten letters, just the way, books used to look all the centuries before. with time, the medium book changed, as more people realized, that the medium had changed and delivered new possibilities.
so let's celebrate the people pushing the frontier, trying new things and showing us coherent ways of using the new mediums.
[+] [-] ahsanhilal|14 years ago|reply
The artwork definitely has a unique aesthetic to it. The level of detail is amazing.
Products like these, Numberlys, and other Mononbot studio products is showing us how media is going to evolve as the mode of consumption evolves. In my opinion this how you kill hollywood, by providing any talented team of individuals the ability to publish great products and reach millions.
[+] [-] cyanbane|14 years ago|reply
I honestly think the story looks great and think that a half hour of entertaining reading/art will easily be worth .99c
[+] [-] bootload|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] dugsu|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] TheTrueTDF|14 years ago|reply
http://www.byook.com/
[+] [-] muraiki|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] JohnLBevan|14 years ago|reply
http://www.brandongenerator.com
http://darkhorse.geekandsundry.com/
[+] [-] ryanwjackson|14 years ago|reply
Hope to see many more like these. Reminds me of the Daily Prophet.
[+] [-] bomatson|14 years ago|reply
Via the trailer: Incredible graphics and an intriguing storyline. Can't wait to try it out