Notes on Animation: Cats Don’t Dance
Some films are guaranteed hits, some films underperform, some do OK, some even exceed expectations. This one almost vanished the minute it was completed.
In 1997, the heyday of the animated musical, Turner Feature Animation were completing their first and only fully animated film. However, they had just been merged with Time Warner, and during the restructuring of the company, it appears they forgot to market the film and as a result it didn’t do too well.
Regardless of box office statistics, I think it deserves some appreciation. Especially for it’s design and animation. If you are a student of animation practice, come look at these scenes with me. You’ll get a lesson in how and when to employ the principles of animation, as this film magnifies all of them. Spades of slick, weighty, squashy, rhythmic motion are packed into this film. As with the other videos in the series, I’m digging my teeth into the details of specific shots.
Thanks to Wayne Carlisi of 101animation.com and Frans Vischer of fuddles.net, two of the film’s animators who informed much of the video’s content.