movies/tv Care Bears reboot- Unlock the Magic + art style trend

[ManaMinori 4,145]

So apparently, a Care Bears reboot is coming in late 2018, called "Unlock the Magic". There are a few bears that I have fallen in love with over the years, such as Wonderheart and Wish bear. However, I'm also interested in seeing how closely this new reboot borrows elements from My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, since the title has flags raising, for me. (not that that's a bad thing.  I recently made a theory on how the two franchises actually are more related than one might initially think, and am eager to see how this might pan out)

 

But there's something else that has flags raising, for me, and that's the art style. Immediately upon seeing this pop up on my Tumblr, I cringed a little. The art style is something that's been getting repetitive- it's seen in Teen Titans Go!, The Amazing World of Gumball, Steven Universe, and most recently, in the Thundercats Roar reboot as well. It's easily recognizable, and I guess that's a good thing, but it starts to lose its appeal, I think, when it seems like every other series is trying to emulate this style, now. While watching this series, I can't help that I'll be constantly thinking 'oh, SU, or X other series did this, first. Copycats." So that's a bit of a turn off, for me.

 

But what do you guys think about the news of this new Care Bears reboot?

[Tacodidra 61,163]

I haven't been particularly interested in Care Bears. I think I watched a few episodes as a kid, but it was never quite one of my favorite cartoons. But to be honest, I wasn't interested in MLP either before FIM. A similar approach could be interesting (as long as it's not too similar). I noticed the new ones (at least the ones pictured) are all bears – didn't the old ones also have a lion, for example? But then again, it makes more sense that the Care Bears are bears.

I agree on the art style. More variety would be good, the style used in a lot of modern cartoons doesn't really appeal to me. That's another area where I feel MLP has succeeded – it doesn't cost as much to animate as some cartoons but it still looks nice and can be quite lively at times.

Edited May 25, 2018 by Tacodidra

[ManaMinori 4,145]

6 minutes ago, Tacodidra said:

I haven't been particularly interested in Care Bears. I think I watched a few episodes as a kid, but it was never quite one of my favorite cartoons. But to be honest, I wasn't interested in MLP either before FIM. A similar approach could be interesting (as long as it's not too similar). I noticed the new ones (at least the ones pictured) are all bears – didn't the old ones also have a lion, for example. But then again, it makes more sense that the Care Bears are bears.

I agree on the art style. More variety would be good, the style used in a lot of modern cartoons doesn't really appeal to me. That's another area where I feel MLP has succeeded – it doesn't cost as much to animate as some cartoons but it still looks nice and can be quite lively at times.

Many in the pony fandom have had the experience of not liking ponies, yet being drawn to FiM, never thinking that they'd actually like it, but having done so after giving it a chance. I will do the same, obviously, and not judge based off the art style alone (if Bridle Gossip has taught me anything), and hope you follow suit as well.

I think what you're referring to is the "Care Bear Cousins" with Brave Heart the Lion, and other animals, like the sheep, penguin, cat, dog, racoon, elephant, and others). They weren't always around in some of the reboots.

[cmarston1 5,959]

I can't really say that I am interested in this new Care Bears series, because I just am not interested in its franchise in general.

But I have no problem with how it looks because honestly given what Care Bears is, I feel that a cute art style such as this one fits it pretty well.

Also others decade of animation has had their own trends with regards to art styles as well, such as the 60s following the Hanna-Brabera style, the 80s looking like G1 Transformers, He-Man, GI Joe, Thundercats and all the other 22 minute toy commercials, and the 2000s had an influx of cartoons that were either had designs inspired by anime, or were cheaply animated flash cartoons.  So I kinda find it unfair that animation in the 2010's gets called out for following a similar trend in art styles, when other decades have followed trends as well.  Also The Amazing World of Gumball is a bad example to use when talking about how every cartoon nowadays looks the same, given how one of its main appeals would be how it uses and blends a wide variety of different animation mediums that make it look visually distinct from other cartoons on the air right now.

Edited May 25, 2018 by cmarston1

[Twilight Luna 31,369]

I do t understand the appeal with some of these reboot shows like Teen Titans Go. Thundercats Roar is already getting negative attention because of its lazy art design and it’s dumbing down the characters to just one character trait like with Teen Titans Go. They’re being made to bank on nostalgia and mindless humor. I have a feeling that the new Care Bears show will be no different.

[Tacodidra 61,163]

Just now, Nightmare Muffin said:

Many in the pony fandom have had the experience of not liking ponies, yet being drawn to FiM, never thinking that they'd actually like it, but having done so after giving it a chance. I will do the same, obviously, and not judge based off the art style alone (if Bridle Gossip has taught me anything), and hope you follow suit as well.

I think what you're referring to is the "Care Bear Cousins" with Brave Heart the Lion, and other animals, like the sheep, penguin, cat, dog, racoon, elephant, and others). They weren't always around in some of the reboots.

That's true. Art style has been pretty important to me for years, though I'm not as strict about it as I used to be. But I guess there are some series I should give a chance even if the art style isn't my favorite – after all, it took me a while to get used to the idea of watching a cartoon about ponies (even though I liked the show's design).

That's what I meant. It's been so long since I've seen an episode that I didn't remember there was a separate group for the non-bear characters. That makes sense. I just remembered Brave Heart having a fairly prominent role in the episodes I saw – I believe those were the 80s episodes.

[ManaMinori 4,145]

15 minutes ago, cmarston1 said:

I can't really say that I am interested in this new Care Bears series, because I just am not interested in its franchise in general.

But I have no problem with how it looks because honestly given what Care Bears is, I feel that a cute art style such as this one fits it pretty well.

Also others decade of animation has had their own trends with regards to art styles as well, such as the 60s following the Hanna-Brabera style, the 80s looking like G1 Transformers, He-Man, GI Joe, Thundercats and all the other 22 minute toy commercials, and the 2000s had an influx of cartoons that were either had designs inspired by anime, or were cheaply animated flash cartoons.  So I kinda find it unfair that animation in the 2010's gets called out for following a similar trend in art styles, when other decades have followed trends as well.  Also The Amazing World of Gumball is a bad example to use when talking about how every cartoon nowadays looks the same, given how one of its main appeals would be how it uses and blends a wide variety of different animation mediums that make it look visually distinct from other cartoons on the air right now.

I get that a cute art style works with such a franchise. That's not the issue I have. It's that the art style- although being cute- is a carbon copy of other franchises. Could it have been altered in a way that still makes the style simplistic, and cute, without having people take one look at it and say that it reminds them of many other Cartoon Network series with the same art style? Yes, I believe that it could've. I know this art style is becoming a trend, but sometimes, we need to break away from what's 'trendy' or the norm to stand out and be recognized as unique.

[Castle Bleck 19,360]

UTM's, SU's, and Gumball's art styles range from decent to good.

 

But TTG's is meh, and Roar's is hideous (fail first impression is fail).

Edited May 25, 2018 by A.V.

[ManaMinori 4,145]

On 5/25/2018 at 11:02 AM, A.V. said:

UTM's, SU's, and Gumball's art styles range from decent to good.

 

But TTG's is meh, and Roar's is hideous (fail first impression is fail).

they all look the same, though.

[TBD 17,254]

Ed, edd, and eddy is getting a reboot and they look a bit chibish..I guess everyone is doing a "chibi" style now for every new shows..kinda dull and overuse if you asks me. 

Edited May 29, 2018 by TBD

[Dreambiscuit 9,691]

I'm not a big Care Bears fan as it is, even when the animation style is agreeable. I tried the CG version a few years ago with an open mind but it just didn't have enough to grab my attention. If they reboot it yet again with the kind of bad animation style prevalent among modern cartoons it will lose what little it had to begin with. It needs a better art style and good writing to go with it.

[noextrai 1]

9 hours ago, Nightmare Muffin said:

they all look the same, though.

They follow similar art style trends, but it's all about the detail and execution.

9 hours ago, TBD said:

Ed, edd, and eddy is getting a reboot and they look a bit chibish..I guess everyone is doing a "chibi" style now for every new shows..kinda dull and overuse if you asks me. 

You have fallen for some fake news dude.

[Guest]

10 hours ago, TBD said:

Ed, edd, and eddy is getting a reboot and they look a bit chibish..I guess everyone is doing a "chibi" style now for every new shows..kinda dull and overuse if you asks me. 

That was a hoax, creator of the show flat out said they are not getting a reboot.

 

Also oh look, another SU clone... Snore.

[honk friend 1,978]

13 hours ago, TBD said:

Ed, edd, and eddy is getting a reboot and they look a bit chibish..I guess everyone is doing a "chibi" style now for every new shows..kinda dull and overuse if you asks me. 

I'm kind of amazed you fell for it that easily, 2 minutes of research and I found it to be fake.

[TBD 17,254]

6 hours ago, noextrai said:

They follow similar art style trends, but it's all about the detail and execution.

You have fallen for some fake news dude.

 

6 hours ago, Key Sharkz said:

That was a hoax, creator of the show flat out said they are not getting a reboot.

 

Also oh look, another SU clone... Snore.

 

3 hours ago, Annie said:

I'm kind of amazed you fell for it that easily, 2 minutes of research and I found it to be fake.

Alright alright i dont need two or three people to tell me its a fake. I just got the announcment from tv show update on fb and don’t bother reseaching about it since i couldnt care less about CN reboots since TTG and PPG.

Edited May 29, 2018 by TBD

[Kai-rouken 146]

The art style looks pretty cute to be honest. I'm not expecting anything particularly stimulating as far as narrative development is concerned however, so I will likely pass on it. 

[CandyCorn 428]

I think it looks cute. My only concern is how CN will do the show. Some of their shows are very dumb. I've never been very fond of their more recent work. The only thing I like is We Bare Bears tbh, and that show is cute! I also find myself being fond of Steven Universe. I'm actually disappointed that CN even got the rights to do this. Why not Nickelodeon? They need fresher cartoony stuff since they haven't been coming out with cartoons that much. Just live action stuff...

Edited August 5, 2018 by Fangirl Mode

[Seiya-Meteorite 22]

While I like MLP, I've always been more of a Care Bears guy, I prefer the 80's version best, if you look past the commercialism they have it's actually pretty enjoyable, teaches simple morals for kids, actually has a bit of action (makes me wish they did video games based on the films also that were sidescrolling action ones) and hell, I even still like the first two movies (but it did have its flaws, season 3/4 only focused on a select amount of them, causing some characters like Loyal Heart Dog and Gentle Heart Lamb to be forgotten characters), the newer ones are mostly horrible.

 

This show looks interesting and the art style is cute, but I hope it doesn't focus on only those six, I hope they maybe bring back some of the original villains from the 80's, have it be a mix of action/adventure and slice of life, not be so overtly cringeworthy like Adventures in Care a Lot nor as horribly unfunny and disgusting like Care Package Chronicles, and I hope it won't end up being turned all...perverted like what a certain part of this fandom has done...

Edited August 13, 2018 by Seiya-Meteorite

[CheeryFox 23,821]

The art style doesn't look too bad...I'm concerned about any writing itself and the direction way more tbh, yo. 

[Nightmare Saturn 815]

I'm here! Years later... and while I haven't seen it, I have fallen in love with the artstyle, they look cute!  You wanna see terrifying care bears? See Adventures in Care-A-Lot! Ugh!