Art Style Question - Do You Prefer Realism or Cartoons?

[Odyssey 5,717]

To all of you artistic bronies - what are your thoughts on realism and cartoons? Do you like to give cartoony characters a more realistic body shape, or do you prefer the different change of style?

 

I like both myself. While I find it very impressive to see somebody turn a pony into something that would come from real life, I also love the diverse art styles in many cartoons, as well as how I can just escape from reality and enjoy something different and upbeat.

[Blue Moon 6,341]

I definitely prefer a more exaggerated style in cartoons; it's really cool to see all these new styles, and not to say realism is bad, but I do like seeing things differently. However, I do have respect for cartoons that can pull off realism as it's very easy to mess up if you're trying to be realistic.

 

But yeah, exaggeration for me. Song of the Sea is a good example of a cartoon that has a nice, but not exactly accurate to a real body shape, art style.

Edited May 5, 2015 by Blue Moon

[Moved to Elsewhere 11,331]

I personally prefer a cartoony style. It's a more feel good style to me.

[Wind Chaser 4,768]

I like to be somewhere in between. I very much love the idea of art imitating life, but also the stylization and flexibility that such media offers. I favor the realistic style when you can take something that either exists in real life or could possibly exist and really portray it in a unique manner that you cannot do in any other medium, and when excessive stylization would reduce the familiarity of a character or object.

 

Being in between has a sort of symbolic meaning as well, sort of like being in adolescence; being caught in between the bright and idealistic worldview of a child and the maturity and responsibilities of adulthood. That's really the sort of feeling I want to go for, but subtly, not overtly.

[Pastel 7,630]

I prefer a cartoon style by far, it's cuter, funnier and we can imagine more things than with a realistic style.

Edited May 5, 2015 by Blobulle

[Hammy21 9]

I'm going to be the odd one out and say realism. Okay, not 'strict, everything must have perfect colors and lighting and not have odd proportions' realism, but just stuff that looks realistic enough, you know? Things that are 3d and have texture. Cartoons are great, but with stuff like textures or the way light and shadows blend together... well, it just has more depth to me. With realism, you can almost, I dunno, step into the art, where cartoons it's, like, a flat wall.

[Clover Heart 978]

I like both. They both fill different roles. More realistic styles of art can be used for more serious storylines, while still including action at a lower cost than producing special effects or risking the lives of actors. Comedy, however, doesn't tend to work as well, here. The characters don't tend to be elastic or exaggerated enough. Cartoony characters, however, are perfect for comedy. There are a number of factors which work in favor of cartoony characters being used to comedic ends. These, however, don't tend to be suited as well to drama, although it can work if peppered in. That's the beauty of animation: you can do almost anything with it.

[darkwingmare 1,321]

I like a variety of both! But I prefer when they look more realistic. I guess I'm just not that big of a fan for the too... Out of control cartoon art style. I like it when it's more controlled and smooth. As I said though, I'm open for both and I don't mind either of them. Love cartoon. <3

Edited May 19, 2015 by darkwingmare