Review of Mars Needs Moms (2011) by J-Shap — 24 Aug 2011
Yes, the animation looks incredibly real, impressively so. I applaud the time and energy that went into creating this. The problem is that it actually works against the film in two very bad ways. The first is simple: The film is unpleasant to look at.
This is uncanny valley territory. Everything looks so real, but at the same time clearly false, that it gets very, very creepy. I think this is the main factor in driving kids away. If I were five years old, this would have freaked me out.
The other reason is a point I've been trying to get at for a while. Making animated films look realistic is inherently a bad idea. Leaving the uncanny factor out, this is always a bad idea. Why is it that animated films are made? So we can do things that can't be done in real life.
Look to the film with the best 3D animation I've ever seen: Tangled. Tangled's animation was detailed down to the shiniest fiber of hair. Even then, it never looked like anyone was really there. If no one will believe it, then do whatever you can with it.
Mars Needs Moms, you fail.
This review of Mars Needs Moms (2011) was written by J-Shap on 24 Aug 2011.
Mars Needs Moms has generally received mixed reviews.
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