family guy new aspect ratio

[Sponge-worthy]

Interestingly, when watching newer Family Guy episodes over broadcast TV, I have seen a bit of space at the top of the pillar boxes--as if the boxes don't resolve to the full vertical distance--where you can see the various scenes' backgrounds extend into the 16x9 space. So I think that Family Guy may actually be composed in a 16x9 frame, but the action is blocked into the 4x3 space and then pillar boxes are pasted over the edges.

[Steve]

Originally Posted by ryan69969

Interestingly, when watching newer Family Guy episodes over broadcast TV, I have seen a bit of space at the top of the pillar boxes--as if the boxes don't resolve to the full vertical distance--where you can see the various scenes' backgrounds extend into the 16x9 space. So I think that Family Guy may actually be composed in a 16x9 frame, but the action is blocked into the 4x3 space and then pillar boxes are pasted over the edges.

I've noticed this on several shows, and I'm wanting to say Fox is the worst about it. I feel like I'm being teased with the little bit that's visible over the top of the pillar box-just enough to know the show was done in wide screen but I can't see it that way. They should either adjust the pillar boxes so they cover the entire image or open the image up all the way. Sometimes it irritates me so bad I change the channel.

[Afrobean]

Originally Posted by fireman325

I've noticed this on several shows, and I'm wanting to say Fox is the worst about it. I feel like I'm being teased with the little bit that's visible over the top of the pillar box-just enough to know the show was done in wide screen but I can't see it that way. They should either adjust the pillar boxes so they cover the entire image or open the image up all the way. Sometimes it irritates me so bad I change the channel.

If they just opened the matte, the framing would be wrong. Everything would just look weird.

This is how it has been in the widescreen episodes of Simpsons and King of the Hill I've seen. They clearly framed for 4:3 in the middle, then just opened the matte to fill the screen, leaving unintelligible picture on the left and right side of the picture that doesn't "do anything". It's entirely possible to do HD and maintain 4:3, I really wish they would just do that and not give a damn about fillin mah screen.