I'm would really rather they didn't make an animation of Narnia, I prefer live action, I don't really have a reason, and it's not like I dislike cartoons or animation, just not for Narnia, Narnia is something real, I guess that's way I prefer live action

Please do stay with live action.

They can use CG animation for some characters or scenes. But the humans should stay with live flesh and blood actors. And real settings with real trees and real bodies of water. Please.

Personally, given that it looks like we're going to have to reboot anyway, I'm fine with animation. If it can let them get all the way through the series for once, I'm willing to risk the negatives.

I know that animation isn't always aimed at kids, there have been plenty of animated films that I don't want to see. The main trick would be to make the story balanced between kiddy and too mature, but that happens in live action too. I guess what I'm trying to say is, unless they intentionally water down the books, they won't be worse just because they are animated.

It is an interesting idea. If there was to be reboot, then animation would be a real option. I would, as was said before, solve lots of age and timing issues.

Imagine is someone like Pixar got a hold of Narnia? Yes, I know it will never happen, but just imagine it for a moement. I will be the first to admit that with the newest animation techonoly, I sometimes forget completely that it is animated!

But I still voted for Live action. The live action just makes it som uch more real and reaches out to the crowd more. I feel actually connected to live action characters, more than animation.

I do think they should seriously consider it. But I would NOT want it to be a Computer Animated film. Way too many of those now a day. The only Narnia book I would like to see adapted into a live action film is Horse and His Boy. LWW was good enough that I don't need it to be redone in live action, the rest I can live without seeing in live action.

One really good reason I think they should consider animation is because everyone else is trying to adapt fantasy book series in live action and they are all mimicking one another and trying to be a LOTR or Harry Potter rip off. Traditional 2D animation would set it apart from the rest.

I don't know who would be the best choice for adapting the books (I would love it if all 7 were adapted), but I would want it to be a group who really does their work well and of course do the books justice. The look and feel should be very unique and special to the series. I'm not sure how (for a lack of better words) moving or emotionally impacting the films would be though, compared to what live action may provide. You would need some really good animation + music + voice acting. But it's not impossible.

What would be really cool if the animators drew the movie(s) in the Pauline Baynes style. It would be pretty neat to see her style of work come to life in animation. Or at least use her style as the foundation and build on that.

Anyway, so ya, I would really like to see a creative group do a faithful adaptation of the books in 2D animation.

Now that we know that any future Narnia film is most definitely going to be independent, we know that the film budget will be far tighter than ever before.

Unless animation, whether CGI or traditional, becomes very cheap, an animated Narnia will most likely end up looking like a direct-to-DVD Disney sequel.

I think at this point, they should stick to live action, with added in CGI animated creatures.

Now that we know that any future Narnia film is most definitely going to be independent...

That's DG's wish, it's not set in stone by any means.

Unless animation, whether CGI or traditional, becomes very cheap, an animated Narnia will most likely end up looking like a direct-to-DVD Disney sequel.

You know, you piqued my curiosity so I went and looked up a couple animated films. Tangled was VERY expensive to make ($250mil), even more so than Prince Caspian ($220mil). But Shrek was only $50mil to make so it definitely depends on the film.

Didn't Tangled spend a very long time in pre-production? That would drive up the costs quite a bit. If anything, animated films are becoming less expensive due to technical advancements. However, I think Narnia would be pushing the current technology. From what I've read, Pixar had to create two software programs just for the heroine's hair in Brave.

I don't think I would prefer animation over live-action, but the story always comes first with me. Sometimes the visuals have to be very strong in order to tell the story right (just think of the creation scene in MN!). Other times the visuals aren't as important. HHB would probably do very well in animation.

Keep it live action. The 1979 LWW movie was terrible.

As the technology for animation increases, I think an animated Narnia movie is an exciting prospect. Especially if it involved motion capture.

If it was just an ordinary 2D animated film, I would say no. But honestly, with modern advances being made in animation, I think it might be able to capture the magic of Narnia even better than live action.

Someday, there won't be too much difference between live action and animation. Look at the movie A Christmas Carol. That was very realistic and well done. I'd have no problem with Narnia being done that way.

~Riella

Keep it live action. The 1979 LWW movie was terrible.

I just saw this for the first time recently and agree that the animation is pretty...unusual.

If animation means a reasonably faithful adaptation of the story - and it's done in either the life-like style of A Christmas Carol or the style of shows like The Legend of Korra, I'd be willing to give it a shot. But if, as fantasia_kitty noted, it drives the cost way up, it may not be practical in terms of getting more Narnia films.

I haven't posted in this thread yet largely because I'm undecided. For one thing an animated movie would be potentially cheaper than Live Action, yet I don't really like the cartoonish feeling of the Animated LWW (especially Tumnus)... It'd be nice if it were like Spirit or Watership Down where you can sort of relate to the characters as you would in a Live Action film. It's a really dangerous line though.

Also I really love the helicopter shots in PC I love the landscapes in the movies... it wouldn't be the same in a cartoon.

If they did do animation I'd prefer 2-D or 2-D/3-D mixed... I'm not a big fan of 3-D animation aesthetically, though that's probably a nostalgia thing. Though it'd be nice if they could add some creative element without drawing away from the story.

I wonder what Lewis would have thought of The Lion King since he supposedly feared Aslan coming out cartoonish, especially.

I haven't posted in this thread yet largely because I'm undecided. For one thing an animated movie would be potentially cheaper than Live Action, yet I don't really like the cartoonish feeling of the Animated LWW (especially Tumnus)...

I really doubt any mainstream animated movie that came out nowadays would be anything like the old animated LWW. Modern producers know there would be no point in such a cheap version. Plus, that film was made back in the late 70s. Animation has changed quite a bit since then.

~Riella

Plus, that film was made back in the late 70s. Animation has changed quite a bit since then.

So was Watership Down, but that wasn't nearly as cartoonish as LWW... it was a darker story, yes, but none of the characters were over the top, and they all that the book's mark. I agree with you in that the temptation might not be as strong, but I've seen modern animated movies that cross the line a little too- I'd even argue Reepicheep in VDT was too cartoonish, and that's Live Action. It still depends largely on what the filmmakers will do with the characters. If they can make Aslan and the others respectable, I'd be okay with it.

I'm on the fence.

I kinda would like to see it done, just to see what it would be like and on the other hand it would be really hard to pull that off and to get people to come see it. Basically, you'd get a bunch of little kids and the few devoted fans who will see anything Narnian.

I'll stick with my gut and say no, if they make more Narnian films they should be live action. No question about it.