DreamWorks vs Pixar: Showdown Part 2

I previously compared and discussed the beginnings of both of these mayor animation companies, comparing and contrasting their initial works. Antz for DreamWorks and Toy Story/Bug's Life for Pixar. It seemed to be obvious that Pixar was way ahead of the game, mostly because the committed to telling a story, while DreamWorks opted for reaching new technical achievements.

It was then that DreamWorks decided to create an original story, which took elements from various fairy tales. This film was known as: Shrek.

Shrek was a critical and financial success, and was one of the many reasons as to the creation for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. Which it also won that very same year (Quite a rare feat for a DreamWorks film). The film featured an unlikely hero, an ogre played by Mike Myers in what appears to be his most tolerable performance. Cameron Diaz also starred in the film along side Eddie Murphy. It was this film that started many DreamWorks traditions such as the use of pop-cultural jokes, and the casting of A-list actors to voice the many characters.

The first time around it was fantastic, the jokes were indeed very funny simply because it took a stab at fairy tales (A Disney stronghold). The protagonist could be easily liked, even though he wasn't a charming prince. There also was a cast of memorable characters such as Pinocchio, The gingerbread man, Donkey, and Dragon. The villain although not menacing as Hopper did the job.

All in all DreamWorks second attempt at an animated film featured a style of storytelling which was original at the time, and helped the film overall. However DreamWorks seemed to have taken their success for granted, and copied and pasted this style through out their following feature films.

Pixar, wasn't far behind though losing the Academy Award against Shrek. They still released what is one of the greatest animated movies of their entire repertoire. Monsters, inc (I know Toy Story 2 was released before Monsters, Inc. But that film will be used in comparison against Shrek 2 in a future article).

Monsters, Inc. was your typical Pixar story, as we embarked into a world in which monsters lived and required the screams of children to power their houses, cars, and every other electronic appliance. It was an original take on a very old kid tradition, monsters being present in our bedrooms. However the monsters in the film aren't portrayed as blood thirsty creatures, on the contrary Pixar made the monsters almost human. They have personalities, they have hopes and dreams, and they have a job which just so happens to be scaring the crap out of kids.

The Pixar art team really went all out with the creation of these characters. While DreamsWork had taken well known fairy tale characters and gave them the "DreamWorks Twist", Pixar created brand new characters from scratch. All the monsters in this film are unique with a matching personality.

The story was also something we've never seen before in a monster film either, which is a pair of Monsters having to take care of a little human girl that made her way into her world. The cast was great with John Goodman and Billy Crystal voicing the main monsters, however like many actors portraying a Pixar character, their status and fame disappeared as their voices merged with the characters.

This is the biggest comparison by far between Shrek and Monsters Inc, which is the use of voice talent. Pixar just so happens to create characters that are so well written and thought out that appear to be real. Not once did I see Steve Buschemi in the film (who played evil monster Randall). DreamWorks on the other hand not only goes as far as to advertise their A-Listers, but also designs characters around their looks. This, in my opinion destroys the illusion of creating a character from the ground. Sure it was fun to see Eddie Murphy designed as a Donkey, but it prevent us from seeing Donkey as a character that could live beyond the voice.

In the end it was Pixar that prevailed in the character department, regardless of winning the golden statue or not. However during 2001 both studios can be said to have achieved something, whether it be DreamWork's discovering a new way to tell stories (pop cultural comedy) or Pixar being able to provide a fresh ideas.

Sta tuned for my next article in which I'll discuss the theme of sequels.

Also read my previous article:

DreamWorks vs Pixar: PART 1