Which Animation Co. did which eps?

[DerekPowers]

I always wondered why some eps had near perfect animation (feat of clay 2, over the edge, a little piece of home, black out) and some were god awefull (robins reckoning 2, moon of the wolf, superman's pal, zeta).

After watching the ROTJ audio commentary, i was surprised to here that KOKO is a Japanese animation studio, and here i always thought the bats/sups series were done in korea.

so, does anyone know the specifics about the animation companies used for batman, superman, and beyond, like what country they are based in. AND what eps were animated by what companies, including the movies (motp, subzero, rotj). Are the better companies, like KOKO more expensive, and is that why theyre used less?? for buget reasons? Thanks alot.

 

[Green Guardsman]

TMS seems to be everybody's favorite animation while Koko and Akom seem to be everybody's least favorites.

 

[DerekPowers]

really, koko is a least favorite, i thought they did ROTJ?? maybe i remembered wrong and it was TMS that did ROTJ. hmmm, ill have to watch that audio comentary again, cause which ever animation co. did it dini, timm, and the rest of the commentators sure think VERY highly of them, and they should cause they rock. peace.

 

[James Harvey]

Both TMS and Koko did the animation for ROTJ. TMS did some of the big action sequences and KoKo did more of the character interaction scenes. It's pretty easy to tell apart the styles, I find. For example: I find it really obvious that Koko animated the Dance Hall sequences and TMS did the opening sequence and the laser scnee, for instance. I could do a break down scene by scene listing but that'd take awhile.

FYI - KoKo animated all of the Batman Beyond episodes...all of them!

 

[Green Guardsman]

Originally posted by Jim Harvey
Both TMS and Koko did the animation for ROTJ. TMS did some of the big action sequences and KoKo did more of the character interaction scenes. It's pretty easy to tell apart the styles, I find. For example: I find it really obvious that Koko animated the Dance Hall sequences and TMS did the opening sequence and the laser scnee, for instance. I could do a break down scene by scene listing but that'd take awhile.

FYI - KoKo animated all of the Batman Beyond episodes...all of them!

KoKo animated EVERY SINGLE EPISODE? What? Than how come some eps had super crappy animation while some had great animation?

Now if You'll excuse me, the Call Pt. 1 is playing on Cartoon Network right now.

 

[Green Guardsman]

TMS is my name initials too! I swear, TMS, Tony Michael Scrima. I share the same initials as most people's favorite animation company!

Oh, and Jim, if you find this a stupid post, either delete it or move it to Cafe Toon Zone.

 

[Simpler Simon]

Originally posted by Jim Harvey
For example: I find it really obvious that Koko animated the Dance Hall sequences and TMS did the opening sequence and the laser scnee, for instance. I could do a break down scene by scene listing but that'd take awhile.

Actually, would you consider doing that? I'm really curious as to how everyone can pick out crappy animation from good animation, different styles, etc. Whats the secret to becoming an "animation connisseur"?

 

[James Harvey]

I've seen the episodes so many times that I can easily pick out the art styles. 'Last Son of Krypton' parts 1 & 2 is animated by Koko, and part 3 is animated by TMS. I've watched these episode sover and over, that it's become second nature to pick out which animation house did the animation. If you give me sometime, I'm sure I could do the animation studio for each Batman, Superman episode. ROTJ I'll try and do in a day or two.

 

[GL2k2]

This is an interesting topic, I had no idea animation co. were responsible for how an episode looks. I thought it was the directors. Can someone fill me in what the co. does exactly.

 

[jm5150bc]

TMS did the best stuff, hands down...

I can't think of ANY episode that was better than "Feat Of Clay, Part 2" from the animation standpoint... Just Brilliant !!

TMS did MANY more "Superman" eps than they did "Batman", I think. I wish they had done 'em all !!! No other studio even came close, in my mind... the fluidity of movement, the colors, and the characters were just flat out DRAWN better...

 

[James Harvey]

The animation companies simply animate the episode. Each company has their own distinct style, and it's easy to tell. Another example:

TMS animated 'Over The Edge' and 'Mean Seasons'

Koko (or Dong Yang as it was called) animated Mad Love and Beware The Creeper.

Watch these episodes togethor and I guarentee you will be able to pick out the different styles in the episodes. Each animation company gives its own unique touch to the episode in style. Akom brought it's crappy style to episodes like 'Moon of the Wolf' and 'Cat Scratch Fever' . The directors do usually ask for certain scenes and angles and such. I have an interview with Boyd Kirkland ("Sub-Zero", "Pretty Poison", X-Men: Evolution) coming up in a day or so that may help shed light on the subject.

As for crappy animation - you can see that amile away. Luckily, Koko was in top shape when animating their scenes in ROTJ, so their style does blend pretty good. Watch the "Stupid Kid" Bat-Cave sequence between Bruce and Terry (animated by Koko) and then watch the scene where Joker crashes Bruce's party (animated by TMS). If you look at Bruce and Terry in both scenes, you should be able to tell the difference between the styles.

But Koko has had their share of poorly animated episodes, mostly due to time or budget restraints. The budget was larger on ROTJ so they were able to have more time to animate, etc...

Another quick example:

TMS animated the Batman/Superman team up episode (s) World's Finest while KoKo animated the Batman/Superman team up episodes Knight Time and Demon Reborn.

 

[GL2k2]

I liked the Knight Time one, but Demon Reborn sucked IMHO. Also, the reason why I ask is because one of the directors from BTAS worked on Gargoyles and I compared his episodes from both series and could get the style of animation done. Also from directors from both STAS, BTAS, and JL have seemingly the same style. But, throwing in animation co. has just thrown me off completely. I don't see the sense in having a director then.

 

[James Harvey]

Directors are essential to every episode, like they are to a movie. They decide the shots and angles and how they want to shoot a scene. A director will storyboard out the episode (with assistance from storyboard artists and designers, usually) and the storyboards are then sent to animation houses to be animated. Without the directors, the episodes would have...well...no direction.

 

[Maxie Zeus]

Originally posted by DerekPowers
so, does anyone know the specifics about the animation companies used for batman, superman, and beyond, like what country they are based in. AND what eps were animated by what companies, including the movies (motp, subzero, rotj). Are the better companies, like KOKO more expensive, and is that why theyre used less?? for buget reasons? Thanks alot.

I believe TMS is a Japanese company, and Koko/Dong Yang is a Korean company.

Specifics (shameless self-promotion time): Scroll down to the bottom of the following pages, and you'll find a list of the animation companies and which episodes they animated for BTAS, TNBA and Batman Beyond

 

[DerekPowers]

Originally posted by Jim Harvey


Another quick example:

TMS animated the Batman/Superman team up episode (s) World's Finest while KoKo animated the Batman/Superman team up episodes Knight Time and Demon Reborn.

world's finest part 1 had beautiful animation, probably close to the best the series has ever seen (look at the night club scene for a great example). BUT if you look at parts 2 and 3 its is very very different. Its not bad, just not as good as part 1 and some scenes were just plain sloppy and bad (the scene where luthor is yelling at joker after he and mercy invade their hide out).

So Jim, were all 3 parts done by tms?? id be surprised to here that cause there is a very obvious difference between part 1 and parts 2 & 3.

Now, for those of you who want to brush up on picking out good vs bad animation in our favorite series, heres a good way. Watch "world's finest part 1" and compare it to 2 & 3. thatll be a good start. Also, watch "the demon within", "you scratch my back", "the ultimate thrill", "never fear", "holiday knights", "growing pains", "POV", "two face part 1", "feat of clay part 2", "almost got im" or "the demons quest 1 & 2" and youll see some of the best animation btas has ever seen.

Now watch an episode like "moon of the wolf", "the mechanic", "robin's reckoning part 2", or "sins of the father" and youll get the polar oppisite, pretty bad animation.

Then ofcourse there are the inbetween eps like "mad love", "cold comfort", "two face part 2", and "nothing to fear" (to name a few). these eps have decent animation, nothing too great but nothing too bad.

then ofcourse there are the eps w/ really nice animation, just not quite as perfect as the beautiful and flawless animation of the eps i listed above. These eps include "fear of victory", "pretty poison", and "double talk" (to name a few).

JEez, did i just reveal just how nerdy i am or what??? but seriously, if you really want to be able to tell just watch the eps and keep in mind how fluid the movement is, how conistant the animation is (meaning, does things change size too dramatically as it moves), and how in proportion the characters stay. Also, just look at how cool or nice something looks. Watch "growing pains" and watch the animation of robin and annie. they just look so damn good. well, thats my little rant. hope it helps someone. peace.

 

[James Harvey]

Originally posted by DerekPowers
So Jim, were all 3 parts done by tms?? id be surprised to here that cause there is a very obvious difference between part 1 and parts 2 & 3.

Yes, TMS did all three parts. I find it rathar obvious that they did. The animation does a get a bit rushed in a few scenes, but everything stays on model throughout the three parts. TMS did do all three parts, but likely had to rush some of the animation due to time constraints.

TNBA did have some bueaituflly done episodes. Koko did an amazing job on episodes like 'The Ultimate Thrill' and 'Holiday Knights'. TMS did a great job on the episode 'The Demon Within'. Sure, the episode sorta sucked, but the animation in that episode was amazing. TMS also did a real nice job on 'You Scratch My Back' as well. I've probably gushed too much about TMS already...

...but TMS also animated two of my favorite Superman episodes. TMS animated 'The Late Mr. Kent' and 'The Promotheon'.

 

[DerekPowers]

so tms did do worlds finest 2 & 3. I felt the animation was very noticably worse in 2 & 3. Not only that but batman was drawn very differently in 2&3 as well as the joker. In 2 & 3 batman seemed to have a different shaped chin or something, it was just different, and joker looked alot worse from how greatly he was animated in part 1.

But Maxie, your site is very informative. Im surprised KOKO did so many great eps. Its crazy how they could animate such beautiful eps then do some really bad ones. Oh well, i supose thats the way it goes. peace.

 

[Harvey Dent]

God, I'd love to see TMS animate a JL story. I get the feeling that they're the only animation company that can animate Superman's face, shield, and body PROPERLY. With the exception of that brief shot of Superman's face when he was holding up that tank in 'Secret Origins', Koko hasn't done anything to prove to me that they can handle the Man of Steel.

 

[DerekPowers]

actually, i thought supes looked a lot better in "fury" than in all the other eps of JL. Too bad he got is but whipped.

 

[GL2k2]

I know this isn't the JL board, but can any of you find out who did the animation for "Brave and the Bold" parts 1 & 2 and "Legends" part 1 & 2. I suspect that differen companies handled these episodes. At least I do with Legends pts 1 & 2, "B&B" I think are the same, but part 2 looks better. Just curious.