Although this film is only about a dozen years old, the CGI technology appears ancient since computer generated animation has progressed so much since then. While today we expect high quality graphics, back in 1996, software to create such work was not widely available and had to usually be written by hand as Pixar's TOY STORY had only come out the year before. Today, even the home user can make animation that looks much better at a fraction of the cost!
Unfortunately, while I admire Richard Condie and the rest of the film makers for attempting such an early project as well as basing the character designs on Condie's earlier hand-drawn animated films, the overall project looks unfinished and very random. In fact, instead of a coherent film, the effort looks more like a rough product that still needs polishing--especially the story. It looks like something animators might show off at a trade show or to financial backers--not a film for the public. At times, objects just seem to randomly pass by at the oddest angles and at other times the entire screen tilts from side to side--like they were experimenting to see what they could do--not make a commercial film. So much of it made little sense and compared to other Pixar shorts of the same era (such as the Luxo, Jr. shorts and even the much earlier KNICK KNACK), LA SALLA comes up wanting. While I do understand that at the time Pixar was the "big boy" in the CGI field, this project just doesn't even come close and isn't particularly entertaining (aside from watching the guy shooting cows--that is pretty cool). How it was nominated for an Oscar is beyond me. A nice attempt, but that's about all.
Unfortunately, while I admire Richard Condie and the rest of the film makers for attempting such an early project as well as basing the character designs on Condie's earlier hand-drawn animated films, the overall project looks unfinished and very random. In fact, instead of a coherent film, the effort looks more like a rough product that still needs polishing--especially the story. It looks like something animators might show off at a trade show or to financial backers--not a film for the public. At times, objects just seem to randomly pass by at the oddest angles and at other times the entire screen tilts from side to side--like they were experimenting to see what they could do--not make a commercial film. So much of it made little sense and compared to other Pixar shorts of the same era (such as the Luxo, Jr. shorts and even the much earlier KNICK KNACK), LA SALLA comes up wanting. While I do understand that at the time Pixar was the "big boy" in the CGI field, this project just doesn't even come close and isn't particularly entertaining (aside from watching the guy shooting cows--that is pretty cool). How it was nominated for an Oscar is beyond me. A nice attempt, but that's about all.
