Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Classic Cartoons Marred by Digital Restoration

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the technology-works-for-good-and-evil dept.

Carl Bialik from the WSJ writes "When classic animated films undergo digital restoration, key features can get lost in translation. The Wall Street Journal reports that the process meant to smooth over scratches and dirt specks on old film "can also remove some of the lines that make up the animation -- for example, blurring Tom's face in a Tom and Jerry cartoon, or erasing lines in Woody Woodpecker's fast-moving beak." "

3 of 296 comments (clear)

  1. blaming the tools by lazuli42 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Why are they complaining about the tools when it's apparent that it's the workmanship that's at fault?

    For an excellent counter example, check out the beautiful work that Animeigo did restoring the original Macross series when they released it on DVD a few years ago. The cleaned up print makes the series look like it was ten years newer.

    --

    "There's companies that are just so cool that you just can't even deal with it," - Bill Gates, about Google

  2. There's a simpler way of restoring old animations. by bartyboy · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Just re-draw every single cell.

  3. Censoring cartoons by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    They removed the "mammy" voice from the black maid in at least one Tom & Jerry and replaced it with a generic white woman's. Only her legs (black) are shown when she is talking to them. Granted it is mildly racist by today's standards but I'd rather see the original and understand the norms of the time than to be treated like a mindless child who needs to be shielded.