Kung Fu Panda and Wall-E from a sheer video comparison point of view.... - Blu-ray Forum

Steelmaker · 11-20-2008, 12:57 PM

I'm not going to get into which is a better film. It's all subjective and I enjoy both very much. I wanted to discuss these 2 films from a sheer video point of view.

It's very interesting to me how Pixar and Dreamworks approached their CGI with these 2 movies. On the surface, most people would probably look at both movies and say something like "yeah they're both cgi, yeah they both look good" and that would be the end of it. But if you really pay attention, you see that Pixar and Dreamworks had very fundamentally different philosophies when it comes to the actual art styles of these films.

To me, Kung Fu Panda is very much a cartoon. I never once thought of it as anything else. It's very bright, very colorful, very entertaining, and despite it being animation, it is painstakingly detailed all the way down to blemishes in the concrete walls of the temple to the tiny individual strands of fur on Po. Absolutely nothing is overlooked and in high def it really pops.

With Wall-E, you could tell that Pixar was going for a real world feel. It is equally detailed as Kung Fu Panda but in a much more subtle sort of way. While the picture doesn't pull your eyes to focus on any one individual detail, it causes you to gaze at the overall realistic effect. I swear there are several moment when Wall E is by himself on Earth that I forget that it is CGI. The grittiness of the planet, the subtle uses of color and light, etc.

Honestly, I think Kung Fu Panda would be a better choice to demo in stores simply because it has more visual "pop" than Wall-E. However both films are very impressive in what they achieve.

BTW, Dreamwork's "Monsters vs Aliens" looks hilarious!!

Spiderbri · 11-20-2008, 01:34 PM

I'm going to agree with you that they are both amazing CGI films, especially in high def, but in different ways. I have a blog with some friends where we review our hobbies. I did wall-e and will do Kung fu panda today as I bought and watched them on the same day.

however i disagree on the point of which is better to showcase Blu-ray. I say Wall-E, while the colors are more subdued in the beginning once you are on the ship things get brighter and pop. But either way the movie is so incrediblely detailed that there are few movies better suited to promote hi-def.

the detail on Wall-E and the earth, etc floored me throughout. I expect to see Wall-E in pretty much ever electronics department from now till next summer.

edit: I'm interested in Monsters vs Aliens too. It looks cheesy but in a good way.

ADRiiAN` · 11-20-2008, 01:37 PM

I watched Kung Fu Panda last night, I would like to pick up Wall-e.

Kung Fu Panda, did look extremely nice though.
I would like to say, Cars looked better then KFP, only because it was so much more vibrant.

Oh, and Aliens vs. Monsters looks AWESOME!

dvd_mazter · 11-20-2008, 01:39 PM

Wall.e is better because it has more depth and detail thanks to it's more realistic style. I agree that Kung Fu Panda is more colourful. They are both flawless demo titles and I will be showing them both but if I had to choose, Wall.e

(Monster vs. Aliens does look really sweet. Great voice talent in the flick.)

davcole · 11-20-2008, 01:59 PM

Im interested in comparing audio quality and mix. Anyone with any thoughts?

Steelmaker · 11-20-2008, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davcole

Im interested in comparing audio quality and mix. Anyone with any thoughts?

I wish I could comment on this one. Unfortunately I don't have my home theater hooked up yet. I have a feeling that Wall-E will edge Kung Fu Panda out in this regard.

prerich · 11-20-2008, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steelmaker

I wish I could comment on this one. Unfortunately I don't have my home theater hooked up yet. I have a feeling that Wall-E will edge Kung Fu Panda out in this regard.

I haven't heard or seen Wall-E yet (Lord willing and the creek don't rise, I will this week), but I have seen Kung Fu Panda - and if Wall-E can beat its audio...It would be an instant masterpiece. Kung Fu Panda's audio is almost flawless!!! Detailed, emersive, and deep bass that doesn't dominate the track until necessary. Dreamworks did a good job on that one!

AaronSCH · 11-20-2008, 02:17 PM

I really enjoyed "Kung Fu Panda." It was beautifully animated and quite entertaining. That being said, the artists at Pixar once again pushed the boundaries of storytelling and animation with "Wall-E." In my opinion, it will withstand the test of time and go on to be considered a classic along with the rest of the Pixar canon. It is simply in a different class.

Kung Fu Panda is to Wall-E as Looney Tunes is to Pinocchio.

Steelmaker · 11-20-2008, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AaronSCH

I really enjoyed "Kung Fu Panda." It was beautifully animated and quite entertaining. That being said, the artists at Pixar once again pushed the boundaries of storytelling and animation with "Wall-E." In my opinion, it will withstand the test of time and go on to be considered a classic along with the rest of the Pixar canon. It is simply in a different class.

Kung Fu Panda is to Wall-E as Looney Tunes is to Pinocchio.

It's funny you gave that analogy. I was telling someone the other day how watching Dream Works and Pixar go back and forth is very reminiscent of how Disney-Merry Melodies and Warner Bros-Looney Toons used to rival each other.

I agree that Wall-E is overall the better movie. Just like Pixar overall is better than Dreamworks. However I think Dreamworks has made great strides in catching up. Pixar is still better, but I think Dreamworks is slowly narrowing the gap.

SquidPuppet · 11-20-2008, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steelmaker

It's funny you gave that analogy. I was telling someone the other day how watching Dream Works and Pixar go back and forth is very reminiscent of how Disney-Merry Melodies and Warner Bros-Looney Toons used to rival each other.

I agree that Wall-E is overall the better movie. Just like Pixar overall is better than Dreamworks. However I think Dreamworks has made great strides in catching up. Pixar is still better, but I think Dreamworks is slowly narrowing the gap.

I agree with your first post and here. Pixar and Dreamworks have different styles, looks and approaches, but Dreamworks has made some HUGE strides with Panda. Wall-E's anvironments look more "real", and while Panda didnt go for that "look", it has no shortage of detail.

Just keep pumping them out because I love them all.

OT: I thought Madagascar 2 was a hoot...better than #1.

RazorFromHRSnet · 11-20-2008, 02:58 PM

Did anyone else watch the special feature on how they worked to simulate the imperfections caused by focal pulls with anamorphic lenses for 70mm film?
The level of detail put into WallE is amazing.

SquidPuppet · 11-20-2008, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RazorFromHRSnet

Did anyone else watch the special feature on how they worked to simulate the imperfections caused by focal pulls with anamorphic lenses for 70mm film?
The level of detail put into WallE is amazing.

I have not watched the special features, but I noticed that in the theater. Its just crazy how much effort goes into their stuff to make it look like "film". Good stuff.

ryoohki · 11-20-2008, 03:19 PM

In fact i think Wall E people tried to give the film the '50's Sci Fi look', that's why it look the way it is right now..

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11-20-2008, 12:57 PM	#1
Steelmaker Blu-ray Duke Member since:Mar 2007 Location:Chattanooga, TN Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:1	Kung Fu Panda and Wall-E from a sheer video comparison point of view.... I'm not going to get into which is a better film. It's all subjective and I enjoy both very much. I wanted to discuss these 2 films from a sheer video point of view. It's very interesting to me how Pixar and Dreamworks approached their CGI with these 2 movies. On the surface, most people would probably look at both movies and say something like "yeah they're both cgi, yeah they both look good" and that would be the end of it. But if you really pay attention, you see that Pixar and Dreamworks had very fundamentally different philosophies when it comes to the actual art styles of these films. To me, Kung Fu Panda is very much a cartoon. I never once thought of it as anything else. It's very bright, very colorful, very entertaining, and despite it being animation, it is painstakingly detailed all the way down to blemishes in the concrete walls of the temple to the tiny individual strands of fur on Po. Absolutely nothing is overlooked and in high def it really pops. With Wall-E, you could tell that Pixar was going for a real world feel. It is equally detailed as Kung Fu Panda but in a much more subtle sort of way. While the picture doesn't pull your eyes to focus on any one individual detail, it causes you to gaze at the overall realistic effect. I swear there are several moment when Wall E is by himself on Earth that I forget that it is CGI. The grittiness of the planet, the subtle uses of color and light, etc. Honestly, I think Kung Fu Panda would be a better choice to demo in stores simply because it has more visual "pop" than Wall-E. However both films are very impressive in what they achieve. BTW, Dreamwork's "Monsters vs Aliens" looks hilarious!! Last edited by Steelmaker; 11-20-2008 at 01:00 PM.

11-20-2008, 01:34 PM	#2
Spiderbri Blu-ray Guru Member since:Oct 2008 Location:PA Home Theater Gallery:7 Blu-ray collection:152 Trading Score:2	I'm going to agree with you that they are both amazing CGI films, especially in high def, but in different ways. I have a blog with some friends where we review our hobbies. I did wall-e and will do Kung fu panda today as I bought and watched them on the same day. however i disagree on the point of which is better to showcase Blu-ray. I say Wall-E, while the colors are more subdued in the beginning once you are on the ship things get brighter and pop. But either way the movie is so incrediblely detailed that there are few movies better suited to promote hi-def. the detail on Wall-E and the earth, etc floored me throughout. I expect to see Wall-E in pretty much ever electronics department from now till next summer. edit: I'm interested in Monsters vs Aliens too. It looks cheesy but in a good way.

11-20-2008, 01:37 PM	#3
ADRiiAN` Special Member Member since:Nov 2007 Location:Toronto Blu-ray collection:113	I watched Kung Fu Panda last night, I would like to pick up Wall-e. Kung Fu Panda, did look extremely nice though. I would like to say, Cars looked better then KFP, only because it was so much more vibrant. Oh, and Aliens vs. Monsters looks AWESOME!

11-20-2008, 01:39 PM	#4
dvd_mazter Power Member Member since:Mar 2008 Location:Winnipeg, Manitoba Home Theater Gallery:9 4K collection:10 Blu-ray collection:740 Blu-ray reviews: 146	Wall.e is better because it has more depth and detail thanks to it's more realistic style. I agree that Kung Fu Panda is more colourful. They are both flawless demo titles and I will be showing them both but if I had to choose, Wall.e (Monster vs. Aliens does look really sweet. Great voice talent in the flick.)

11-20-2008, 01:59 PM	#5
davcole Power Member Member since:Aug 2007 Location:Cincinnati, Oh 4K collection:138 Blu-ray collection:407 Digital collection:25 Blu-ray reviews: 146 Trading Score:9	Im interested in comparing audio quality and mix. Anyone with any thoughts?

11-20-2008, 02:17 PM	#8
AaronSCH Banned Member since:Sep 2007 Trading Score:1	I really enjoyed "Kung Fu Panda." It was beautifully animated and quite entertaining. That being said, the artists at Pixar once again pushed the boundaries of storytelling and animation with "Wall-E." In my opinion, it will withstand the test of time and go on to be considered a classic along with the rest of the Pixar canon. It is simply in a different class. Kung Fu Panda is to Wall-E as Looney Tunes is to Pinocchio.

11-20-2008, 02:58 PM	#11
RazorFromHRSnet Active Member Member since:Mar 2008 Blu-ray collection:89 Blu-ray reviews:1	Did anyone else watch the special feature on how they worked to simulate the imperfections caused by focal pulls with anamorphic lenses for 70mm film? The level of detail put into WallE is amazing.

11-20-2008, 03:19 PM	#13
ryoohki Blu-ray Samurai Member since:May 2007 Home Theater Gallery:6 Blu-ray collection:6 Blu-ray reviews:8 Trading Score:5	In fact i think Wall E people tried to give the film the '50's Sci Fi look', that's why it look the way it is right now..

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