--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For me, one of the great tragedies is the…" description: "\"For me, one of the great tragedies is the conclusion studios have drawn about traditional animation. I believe that 2D animation could be just as vital..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55d/edwin-catmull-5340_animation_for-me-one-of-the-great-tragedies-is-the_669031.png" --- # For me, one of the great tragedies is the conclusion… ![“For me, one of the great tragedies is the conclusion studios have drawn about traditional animation. I believe that 2D animation could be just as vital as it ever was. I think the problem has been with the stories.” quote by Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55d/edwin-catmull-5340_animation_for-me-one-of-the-great-tragedies-is-the_669031.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55d/edwin-catmull-5340_animation_for-me-one-of-the-great-tragedies-is-the_669031.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55d/edwin-catmull-5340_animation_for-me-one-of-the-great-tragedies-is-the_669031.png) > “For me, one of the great tragedies is the conclusion studios have drawn about traditional animation. I believe that 2D animation could be just as vital as it ever was. I think the problem has been with the stories.” [Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker laments that studios undervalue traditional 2D animation, attributing its decline to poor storytelling rather than the medium itself. **In simple terms:** 2D animation is vital but suffers from weak stories. Key Takeaway Focus on strong narratives. Themes animation storytelling industry trends creativity Mood reflective concerned Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - film production - educational curricula - studio strategy Key Concepts media studies artistic value technology vs tradition Questions to Reflect On - What stories could revive 2D animation? - How can studios balance tech and narrative? A Different Perspective May ignore technical constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [2D Animation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/2d-animation-3899024/) [Animation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animation/) [Animation Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animation-believe-5315116/) [Animation Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animation-just-1351520/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Conclusion Studios](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conclusion-studios-5315117/) [Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) [I believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-believe/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Traditional Animation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/traditional-animation-1785737/) ## Related quotes > [Are the Simpsons cool? They are, and that is crude 2D animation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-catmull/are-the-simpsons-cool-they-are-and-that-is-crude-2d-animation/) [Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) > [One of the best animated films I've seen come out of Disney was the Tarzan movie. I wasn't crazy about the story or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-bakshi/one-of-the-best-animated-films-i-ve-seen-come-out-of-disney-was-the/) [Ralph Bakshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-bakshi/) > [No matter what happens with technology or whether you're in traditional animation or stop-motion or CG, the biggest challenge always is story. The flow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-meledandri/no-matter-what-happens-with-technology-or-whether-you-re-in/) [Christopher Meledandri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-meledandri/) > [Technology is the friend of traditional animation. It doesn't have to replace it. It can help you do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tomm-moore/technology-is-the-friend-of-traditional-animation-it-doesn-t-have-to/) [Tomm Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tomm-moore/) > [Although all studios are now moving towards digitalization, a foundation in which we draw pictures by hand hasn't changed, so I foresee that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katsuhiro-otomo/although-all-studios-are-now-moving-towards-digitalization-a/) [Katsuhiro Otomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katsuhiro-otomo/) > [I think the idea of a traditional story being told using traditional animation is likely a thing of the past,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-katzenberg/i-think-the-idea-of-a-traditional-story-being-told-using-traditional/) [Jeffrey Katzenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-katzenberg/) > [Animation is just another way of telling a story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-miller/animation-is-just-another-way-of-telling-a-story/) [Christopher Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-miller/) > [On MTV, the dialogue can be a little darker, more interesting and edgy... the animation is just phenomenal. It's a CGI program that's doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/on-mtv-the-dialogue-can-be-a-little-darker-more-interesting-and-edgy/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [I have more faith in doing something creative for a cable station or something like Yahoo or Google or Amazon. What Netflix did with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-selick/i-have-more-faith-in-doing-something-creative-for-a-cable-station-or/) [Henry Selick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-selick/) > [I was always really fascinated with animation, but just in a way all kids are with watching Disney movies and all that, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-lepore/i-was-always-really-fascinated-with-animation-but-just-in-a-way-all/) [Kirsten Lepore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-lepore/) > [Approximately 400 cuts - that would make 25 percent of the total - use CGI. I worked on the Steamboy's animation production based on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katsuhiro-otomo/approximately-400-cuts-that-would-make-25-percent-of-the-total-use/) [Katsuhiro Otomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katsuhiro-otomo/) > [It's not quite the same as other kinds of performing, but I love animation. It is just a different kind of experience. The difference…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-leguizamo/it-s-not-quite-the-same-as-other-kinds-of-performing-but-i-love/) [John Leguizamo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-leguizamo/) > [I'm a huge fan of animation, and just the arts in general - anything that emanates from someone's mind and soul and is capable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-fleischer/i-m-a-huge-fan-of-animation-and-just-the-arts-in-general-anything/) [Charles Fleischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-fleischer/) > [On 'The Dragon Prince', we wanted to push that even more to leverage the strengths of a CG and 3D pipeline. We wanted details…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-ehasz/on-the-dragon-prince-we-wanted-to-push-that-even-more-to-leverage-the/) [Aaron Ehasz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-ehasz/) > [Motion-capture is not a genre. Motion-capture is a tool and technique and what we tried to do was to really use both motion-capture and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-jackson/motion-capture-is-not-a-genre-motion-capture-is-a-tool-and-technique/) [Peter Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-jackson/) ## More by Edwin Catmull > [Lucasfilm has always had an openness to technology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-catmull/lucasfilm-has-always-had-an-openness-to-technology/) [Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) > [Creative ideas aren't like Jenga blocks, where they fall apart and you've got to start from scratch, though it can feel that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-catmull/creative-ideas-aren-t-like-jenga-blocks-where-they-fall-apart-and-you/) [Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) > [With every one of our films, we try to touch emotions, but we don't try to touch the same emotions each time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-catmull/with-every-one-of-our-films-we-try-to-touch-emotions-but-we-don-t-try/) [Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) > [Every new idea in any field needs protection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-catmull/every-new-idea-in-any-field-needs-protection/) [Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) > [Creativity has to start somewhere, and we are true believers in the power of bracing, candid feedback, and the iterative process - reworking, reworking,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-catmull/creativity-has-to-start-somewhere-and-we-are-true-believers-in-the/) [Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) > [At heart, we believe that the films that work well are the films that do touch people emotionally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-catmull/at-heart-we-believe-that-the-films-that-work-well-are-the-films-that/) [Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) > [Creativity doesn't follow titles. It just comes from where it comes from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-catmull/creativity-doesn-t-follow-titles-it-just-comes-from-where-it-comes/) [Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) > [We'll fund a project even if I'm skeptical because I'd rather be proven wrong by somebody on the inside than by somebody on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-catmull/we-ll-fund-a-project-even-if-i-m-skeptical-because-i-d-rather-be/) [Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) > [I actually feel awkward being at the center of attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-catmull/i-actually-feel-awkward-being-at-the-center-of-attention/) [Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) > [We have a whole industry which is gigantic: games. Games is very successful. It's its own art form, though, and it's not the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-catmull/we-have-a-whole-industry-which-is-gigantic-games-games-is-very/) [Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) > [A movie contains literally tens of thousands of ideas. They're in the form of every sentence; in the performance of each line; in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-catmull/a-movie-contains-literally-tens-of-thousands-of-ideas-they-re-in-the/) [Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) > [With certain ideas, you can predict commercial success. So with a 'Toy Story 3' or a 'Cars 2,' you know the idea is more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-catmull/with-certain-ideas-you-can-predict-commercial-success-so-with-a-toy/) [Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) > [Beware of being blinded by your own success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-catmull/beware-of-being-blinded-by-your-own-success/) [Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) > [My best advice came by examples. A supportive environment at home, school, and grad school. Support at the New York Institute of Technology, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-catmull/my-best-advice-came-by-examples-a-supportive-environment-at-home/) [Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) > [When it comes to producing breakthroughs, both technological and artistic, Pixar's track record is unique. In the early 1990s, we were known as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-catmull/when-it-comes-to-producing-breakthroughs-both-technological-and/) [Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) [Explore all 101 Edwin Catmull quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) ## More Animation quotes > [If I'm doing a voice-over session, like animation or something, and I'm doing three different voices, you've gotta separate them. You've gotta find the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-adlon/if-i-m-doing-a-voice-over-session-like-animation-or-something-and-i-m/) [Pamela Adlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-adlon/) > [I was always into cartoons and animation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nonito-donaire/i-was-always-into-cartoons-and-animation/) [Nonito Donaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nonito-donaire/) > [What's unique about Disney Animation, many of the films have this perennial quality about them. They don't seem like old films, they still seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-minkoff/what-s-unique-about-disney-animation-many-of-the-films-have-this/) [Rob Minkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-minkoff/) > [I was always tinkering around with stuff but nothing serious at the time. I was doing animations and drawing like crazy, but I wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-vangaalen/i-was-always-tinkering-around-with-stuff-but-nothing-serious-at-the/) [Chad VanGaalen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-vangaalen/) > [In feature animation, cartoony or exaggerated animation is almost taboo. There is this precedent that if you do that kind of stuff people won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genndy-tartakovsky/in-feature-animation-cartoony-or-exaggerated-animation-is-almost/) [Genndy Tartakovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genndy-tartakovsky/) > [CGI has fully ruined car crashes. Because how can you be impressed with them now? When you watch them in the '70s, it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-tarantino/cgi-has-fully-ruined-car-crashes-because-how-can-you-be-impressed/) [Quentin Tarantino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-tarantino/) > [To this day I over prepare. I draw storyboards for every scene - chicken scratches so crude that they amuse and horrify the crew.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-stoltz/to-this-day-i-over-prepare-i-draw-storyboards-for-every-scene-chicken/) [Eric Stoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-stoltz/) > [I was invited to join the MGM cartoon department. But if I'd started work in animation I'd have had to take a cut in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/i-was-invited-to-join-the-mgm-cartoon-department-but-if-i-d-started/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [I took a lot of influences from Studio Ghibli, which is the Japanese animation studio that made 'Spirited Away' and 'Castle in the Sky.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-hewlett/i-took-a-lot-of-influences-from-studio-ghibli-which-is-the-japanese/) [Jamie Hewlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-hewlett/) > [I've worked in animation for a long time. I started in Spain and I wanted to make feature films. That desire to figure out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raul-garcia/i-ve-worked-in-animation-for-a-long-time-i-started-in-spain-and-i/) [Raul Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raul-garcia/) > [If you were to look at an old 'Betty Boop' cartoon or an 'Out of the Ink Well' animation, there are many things about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-seibert/if-you-were-to-look-at-an-old-betty-boop-cartoon-or-an-out-of-the-ink/) [Fred Seibert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-seibert/) > [Animation has always been about technology. You can't have animation without technology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-wedge/animation-has-always-been-about-technology-you-can-t-have-animation/) [Chris Wedge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-wedge/) > [In a movie, it's often important to have aliens whose gestures and facial expressions can be 'read' by humans. 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