Channel Frederator Blog

Disney has been investing heavily in live action shows. So have most of the other networks that were once almost exclusively populated with animated entertainment. Moreover though, I think the live action swing in the kids market is indicative of a certain amount of nearsightedness in the industry. Live action shows seem like an easy and relatively inexpensive quick fix for what amount to a few hiccups in the American animation market. However, despite Disney’s best efforts to create franchises for shows like Hannah Montana through stores like Libby Lu, live action franchises don’t have as much potential or power as their animated counterparts, and certainly don’t have the longevity. I have watched shows like Fairly Odd Parents and SpongeBob attract and hold 2 separate generations of kids as an audience, as well as attracting a decent (for a kids show) amount of parents and members of the older set. That said, there are only a few truly great animated shows on television today, which has given a strong, although still temporary, place for live action shows to shine. Of course, with all the bright spots I see in the future of animation, I feel it won’t be too long before the pendulum will move back in the other direction.

Well put, E.S.G.

Well put. You’ve nailed the point about the franchises right on the head. I haven’t seen a live action franchise, with the exception of the power rangers, that has any lasting power to it. In some ways, live-action shows limit their own appeal because an animated series is always more flexible in how it can be used in merchandising and marketing. It seem easier to put an animated icon in a situation or on an a product that wouldn’t necessarily be “in character” for that animated icon. I don’t see Libby Lu or Hanna Montana being able to equally market or expand their franchises from Toys R Us, to Hot Topic (goth wear), to the department store down the street. Well… I’m not going to even touch on the flexibility of the stories behind the animated cartoons - they also are very important to consider, but ESG can say it better than I can.