View Full Version : Did anybody else not like the digital ink & paint look in the '80s revival


TMC
05-10-2020, 05:51 AM
I get why studios like Hanna-Barbera started experimenting (https://web.archive.org/web/20170703033828/https://excelsior.biosci.ohio-state.edu/~carlson/history/PDFs/hanna-barbera.pdf) with digital ink and paint (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditional_animation#Digital_ink_and_paint), which was in effect, a computerized coloring system (https://www.intanibase.com/forum/posts/t15-Article-about-Hanna-Barbera-s-computer-coloring-system). It was considered much less time consuming and more cost-effective (https://www.awn.com/animationworld/animated-scene-animation-s-repatriation) than the traditional hand-painted coloring method.

I guess personally, I don't care about the way that the animation style looks because they just come across as outdated (not surprisingly because of how decidedly limited the technology was at the time). I don't know how to properly explain it other than they have this pale, unfocused/fuzzy look.

This really came ahead when HB produced Scooby-Doo in Arabian Nights (https://wile-e2005.livejournal.com/151474.html) with the same type of minimalist digital ink and paint method...in 1994!!!

Dude111
01-31-2021, 01:25 AM
Yes it was disgusting what happend in the 80s....

I totally hate this digital crap,it has ruined so many movies,songs,etc..... Its total garbage and not what I consider good!!

The original Jetson episodes were beautiful.....


Sad............

TMC
10-22-2022, 04:06 AM
I recently read (https://scoobyaddicts.proboards.com/thread/5508/why-dvd-scooby-scrappy-show?page=2) that that Hanna-Barbera's computer system could only export to 320x240 resolution, which was fine for the 1980s (https://animesuperhero.com/forums/threads/cel-animated-show-that-switched-to-digital-coloring.5782621/) but pretty small by today's standards (https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.php?p=20484034&postcount=1212). Its limitations and primitiveness also really show with 1994's Scooby-Doo in Arabian Nights (http://mfoxweb-001-site22.mysitepanel.net/viewtopic.php?t=13771), by which that time the computer system (https://animesuperhero.com/forums/threads/hanna-barbera%C2%B4s-computer-coloring-system.5630742/) was over at (https://scoobyaddicts.proboards.com/thread/4097/favorite-overseas-animation-studio) Wang Film Productions in Taiwan.

TMC
02-15-2023, 01:07 AM
Yes it was disgusting what happend in the 80s....

I totally hate this digital crap,it has ruined so many movies,songs,etc..... Its total garbage and not what I consider good!!

The original Jetson episodes were beautiful.....


Sad............

The first season (http://drg4.dancemania-ex.com/ffx.html) of the '90s animated adaptation (http://marvel.popgeeks.com/fanfourtas/episode/) of the Fantastic Four (https://www.reddit.com/r/Marvel/comments/zfisfd/thoughts_on_fantastic_four_the_animated_series1994/) comic book series also employed (https://www.cbr.com/fantastic-four-no-sense-90s-animated-series/) Wang Film Productions (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0187635/reviews) and it too had that type of look. It goes without saying that by 1994 (https://dvdizzy.com/fantasticfour-series.html), that type of animation style was woefully outdated and of low quality (http://thexamtaroshowvault.blogspot.com/2015/08/fantastic-four-1994-1995-animated.html), especially for an action adventure, superhero show.

stevea
02-15-2023, 07:19 AM
The most annoying thing about current remastering is the left to right camera pan. In the original analog film the pan is smooth and continuous. In the digital realm it becomes a visible jerky motion.

It spoils the original film. It's probably an avoidable problem, but it's common.

TMC
04-09-2024, 12:33 AM
Yes it was disgusting what happend in the 80s....

I totally hate this digital crap,it has ruined so many movies,songs,etc..... Its total garbage and not what I consider good!!

The original Jetson episodes were beautiful.....


Sad............

You could say that a live-action equivalent to this was the process of using non-linear editing (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-linear_editing) or employing an electronic post editing system (https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/iel7/7227860/7262645/07262668.pdf) such as Ediflex (https://www.imdb.com/search/title/?companies=co0001976). So by 1986 (https://www.tellytalk.net/threads/what-went-wrong-and-right-with-dallas.1119/), more and more shows (https://cinemontage.org/a-fantasy-of-editing-reality/) such as Dallas, Knots Landing, and Falcon Crest starting using (https://hpaonline.com/herb-dow-and-the-non-linear-revolution/) that system. It was a less time consuming and expensive process than editing with 35 mm film, but the end result was that the picture quality dropped drastically (https://www.tellytalk.net/threads/picture-quality-season-9-10dvd.10404/). This basically now amounted to (http://www.tellytalk.net/threads/dallas-to-get-remastered-in-hd.11422/page-8) shows sporting a blurry, low-resolution video look.

TMC
08-18-2024, 02:09 AM
Yes it was disgusting what happend in the 80s....

I totally hate this digital crap,it has ruined so many movies,songs,etc..... Its total garbage and not what I consider good!!

The original Jetson episodes were beautiful.....


Sad............

I noticed that at least the first three episodes of Season 2 (https://thejetsons.fandom.com/wiki/Season_Two) (or the first season of the 1980s revival) have more of a traditional, old-fashioned hand drawn cel look. It appears that starting with the episode "Judy's Birthday Surprise" (https://thejetsons.fandom.com/wiki/Judy%27s_Birthday_Surprise), we get that digital look. It really sticks out like a sore thumb if you watch all of the episodes in succession. And the digital look (as well as the presence of Orbitty) is the biggest indicator (https://dvdizzy.com/jetsons-season2-volume1.html) that you're watching one of the '80s era episodes (https://animatedviews.com/2009/the-jetsons-season-two-volume-one/). Like I said before, the '80s episodes ironically, haven't aged very well when compared (https://animesuperhero.com/forums/threads/jetsons-in-the-60s-vs-in-the-80s.3706121/) to the '60s ones because of how outdated and unpolished the digital technology is now nearly 40 years later.

Dude111
08-18-2024, 04:06 PM
The most annoying thing about current remastering is the left to right camera pan. In the original analog film the pan is smooth and continuous. In the digital realm it becomes a visible jerky motion.

It spoils the original film. It's probably an avoidable problem, but it's common.Yes well they didnt care Stevie....... It was what they were using then,they didnt give a crap it looked like garbage and not as good...........

Thats why I had to find a 1980 release of 9 to 5 (1980) on VHS because they destroyed that movie early on. Even the 1984 release the colours are disgusting!! (Not the original analogue print)

Thanfully I found a 1980 Magnetic Video release that was treated well....

Same thing with Used Cars (1980) -- The first 1981 columbia release (done on center mix (true mono)) is the only GOOD VHS release of that movie.... The newer ones either the sound is messed up or the video looks horrible.......

TMC
06-14-2025, 02:06 AM
I noticed that at least the first three episodes of Season 2 (https://thejetsons.fandom.com/wiki/Season_Two) (or the first season of the 1980s revival) have more of a traditional, old-fashioned hand drawn cel look. It appears that starting with the episode "Judy's Birthday Surprise" (https://thejetsons.fandom.com/wiki/Judy%27s_Birthday_Surprise), we get that digital look. It really sticks out like a sore thumb if you watch all of the episodes in succession. And the digital look (as well as the presence of Orbitty) is the biggest indicator (https://dvdizzy.com/jetsons-season2-volume1.html) that you're watching one of the '80s era episodes (https://animatedviews.com/2009/the-jetsons-season-two-volume-one/). Like I said before, the '80s episodes ironically, haven't aged very well when compared (https://animesuperhero.com/forums/threads/jetsons-in-the-60s-vs-in-the-80s.3706121/) to the '60s ones because of how outdated and unpolished the digital technology is now nearly 40 years later.

Another problem is that the digital ink and paint look (https://www.reddit.com/r/Scoobydoo/comments/1iuv9b1/comment/me13qtz/) that Hanna-Barbera used from that era (https://discover.hubpages.com/entertainment/Scooby-Doo-and-the-Reluctant-Werewolf-A-Silly-Dooby-Doo-Conclusion-With-Monsters-and-Racing), doesn't (https://www.reddit.com/r/Scoobydoo/comments/1l7i9zg/comment/mx0ftgd/) remaster well. This is for example, why the blu-ray (https://www.reddit.com/r/Scoobydoo/comments/1iuv9b1/should_i_buy_reluctant_werewolf_on_bluray/) for Scooby Doo! and the Reluctant Werewolf (https://www.resetera.com/threads/scooby-doo-ghoul-school-boo-brothers-finally-available-on-blu-ray.828555/) wasn't in (https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=209962) proper high definition (https://scoobyaddicts.proboards.com/thread/5671/remastered-hd-version-hbo-max).

Dude111
06-14-2025, 05:15 PM
Its all garbage after they stopped using analogue and its a disgrace!

TMC
10-26-2025, 03:49 AM
Here are the answers that I received (https://www.google.com/search?q=Did+anybody+else+not+like+the+digital+ink+%26+paint+animation+look+in+the+1980s+television+revival+of+The+Jetsons+%281985-87%29%3F+I+get+why+studios+like+Hanna-Barbera+started+experimenting+with+digital+ink+and+paint%2C+which+was+in+effect%2C+a+computerized+coloring+system.+It+was+considered+much+less+time+consuming+and+more+cost-effective+than+the+traditional+hand-painted+coloring+method.+I+guess+personally%2C+I+don%27t+care+about+the+way+that+the+animation+style+looks+because+they+just+come+across+as+outdated+%28not+surprisingly+because+of+how+decidedly+limited+the+technology+was+at+the+time%29.+I+don%27t+know+how+to+properly+explain+it+other+than+they+have+this+pale%2C+unfocused%2Ffuzzy+look.+This+really+came+ahead+when+HB+produced+Scooby-Doo+in+Arabian+Nights+with+the+same+type+of+minimalist+digital+ink+and+paint+method...in+1994%21%21%21&sca_esv=88bbe5a9134b5362&sxsrf=AE3TifMsFQXmxx26P95To6gPTZYkV19peA%3A1761464808807&ei=6NH9aM-CMbDLp84P28aN6AY&ved=0ahUKEwjPltrhr8GQAxWw5ckDHVtjA20Q4dUDCBE&uact=5&oq=Did+anybody+else+not+like+the+digital+ink+%26+paint+animation+look+in+the+1980s+television+revival+of+The+Jetsons+%281985-87%29%3F+I+get+why+studios+like+Hanna-Barbera+started+experimenting+with+digital+ink+and+paint%2C+which+was+in+effect%2C+a+computerized+coloring+system.+It+was+considered+much+less+time+consuming+and+more+cost-effective+than+the+traditional+hand-painted+coloring+method.+I+guess+personally%2C+I+don%27t+care+about+the+way+that+the+animation+style+looks+because+they+just+come+across+as+outdated+%28not+surprisingly+because+of+how+decidedly+limited+the+technology+was+at+the+time%29.+I+don%27t+know+how+to+properly+explain+it+other+than+they+have+this+pale%2C+unfocused%2Ffuzzy+look.+This+really+came+ahead+when+HB+produced+Scooby-Doo+in+Arabian+Nights+with+the+same+type+of+minimalist+digital+ink+and+paint+method...in+1994%21%21%21&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAitgZEaWQgYW55Ym9keSBlbHNlIG5vdCBsaWtlIHRoZSBkaWdpdGFsIGluayAmIHBhaW50IGFuaW1hdGlvbiBsb29rIGluIHRoZSAxOTgwcyB0ZWxldmlzaW9uIHJldml2YWwgb2YgVGhlIEpldHNvbnMgKDE5ODUtODcpPyBJIGdldCB3aHkgc3R1ZGlvcyBsaWtlIEhhbm5hLUJhcmJlcmEgc3RhcnRlZCBleHBlcmltZW50aW5nIHdpdGggZGlnaXRhbCBpbmsgYW5kIHBhaW50LCB3aGljaCB3YXMgaW4gZWZmZWN0LCBhIGNvbXB1dGVyaXplZCBjb2xvcmluZyBzeXN0ZW0uIEl0IHdhcyBjb25zaWRlcmVkIG11Y2ggbGVzcyB0aW1lIGNvbnN1bWluZyBhbmQgbW9yZSBjb3N0LWVmZmVjdGl2ZSB0aGFuIHRoZSB0cmFkaXRpb25hbCBoYW5kLXBhaW50ZWQgY29sb3JpbmcgbWV0aG9kLiBJIGd1ZXNzIHBlcnNvbmFsbHksIEkgZG9uJ3QgY2FyZSBhYm91dCB0aGUgd2F5IHRoYXQgdGhlIGFuaW1hdGlvbiBzdHlsZSBsb29rcyBiZWNhdXNlIHRoZXkganVzdCBjb21lIGFjcm9zcyBhcyBvdXRkYXRlZCAobm90IHN1cnByaXNpbmdseSBiZWNhdXNlIG9mIGhvdyBkZWNpZGVkbHkgbGltaXRlZCB0aGUgdGVjaG5vbG9neSB3YXMgYXQgdGhlIHRpbWUpLiBJIGRvbid0IGtub3cgaG93IHRvIHByb3Blcmx5IGV4cGxhaW4gaXQgb3RoZXIgdGhhbiB0aGV5IGhhdmUgdGhpcyBwYWxlLCB1bmZvY3VzZWQvZnV6enkgbG9vay4gVGhpcyByZWFsbHkgY2FtZSBhaGVhZCB3aGVuIEhCIHByb2R1Y2VkIFNjb29ieS1Eb28gaW4gQXJhYmlhbiBOaWdodHMgd2l0aCB0aGUgc2FtZSB0eXBlIG9mIG1pbmltYWxpc3QgZGlnaXRhbCBpbmsgYW5kIHBhaW50IG1ldGhvZC4uLmluIDE5OTQhISFIAFAAWABwAHgAkAEAmAEAoAEAqgEAuAEDyAEA-AEBmAIAoAIAmAMAkgcAoAcAsgcAuAcAwgcAyAcA&sclient=gws-wiz-serp) when I forward this particular question and discussion elsewhere:

ChatGPT (https://chatgpt.com/s/t_68fdd10e20e481919f6e083be9d050a3)

Google (google.com/search?q=Did+anybody+else+not+like+the+digital+ink+%26+paint+animation+look+in+the+1980s+television+revival+of+The+Jetsons+%281985-87%29%3F+I+get+why+studios+like+Hanna-Barbera+started+experimenting+with+digital+ink+and+paint%2C+which+was+in+effect%2C+a+computerized+coloring+system.+It+was+considered+much+less+time+consuming+and+more+cost-effective+than+the+traditional+hand-painted+coloring+method.+I+guess+personally%2C+I+don%27t+care+about+the+way+that+the+animation+style+looks+because+they+just+come+across+as+outdated+%28not+surprisingly+because+of+how+decidedly+limited+the+technology+was+at+the+time%29.+I+don%27t+know+how+to+properly+explain+it+other+than+they+have+this+pale%2C+unfocused%2Ffuzzy+look.+This+really+came+ahead+when+HB+produced+Scooby-Doo+in+Arabian+Nights+with+the+same+type+of+minimalist+digital+ink+and+paint+method...in+1994%21%21%21&sca_esv=88bbe5a9134b5362&sxsrf=AE3TifP1RqgM0GPYAa4lDwnnPFJHb5ZjIg%3A1761464839349&udm=50&fbs=AIIjpHxU7SXXniUZfeShr2fp4giZ59Aj-dkSgmXWKpa2HWaBZPGTDZtOU71PjDWW70svawaZPXA86-YJdPiXQ6uBNsZwB5b-WQUuKwjyafBxsGakeStJbgzhNpAmhT3k55gU9nifLMO_xWK3HOpDI1oTDfQR2nzVOAswxXNsJiajY9gXrK138O8LjgVnKaXGEP-dUmuig6TpV3ATsED4uHHwkpWRQ7LUmA&aep=1&ntc=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjFqaLwr8GQAxVh48kDHaN4MCUQ2J8OegQIEhAE&biw=1600&bih=739&dpr=1&mstk=AUtExfBDYHBNLk95cl10v417OV2Hvrsu8Q-hzssY9LPOuFFbcEJBDAO-GM11DTG6PLoJ7qEKnFGoyvxU9R3FLfFCfuSWMbxunFgD98aqTbO1YhgFK6O_SXrsBc6Y7ZIAbawpbVxfTWAHD2ALVWCLS9zzrz8O1pELLfMisoBGt3aGo6EPKBBpc1pplmESoCzThL1KggNGUbIVjuKrJN9n7rDL0VvBwNdm3D4iiokscle93Uhgn1_TMIM63kN-ICrbwmvA4IwNDss5bj6xGK1UB5zpsKGTmYsg1bo7VmfPEAz4HuMEIPRoXgV-_vkDmT_8aq6yqMZlE8FyUrKjhBPA4S4CDuqDm5piEbF2F6IAkjh0Llnmel3k2_UFgQGttsE_e8vCqpv97yegt66UlEEBo76_k4QlCVmYAjgHYIH6r99kjSfGzl_14rU5J7Y1BYa-8Stt1oRBFNeoNb0&csuir=1)

Grok (https://x.com/i/grok/share/asPM6XrKaQQyNsASZWAmdWTV9)

Perplexity (https://www.perplexity.ai/search/did-anybody-else-not-like-the-kdvXKfvgQWCKYAH8oyp_nQ#0)

Poe (https://poe.com/s/ay3uVIXOGIH9Cfb7nzfz)

Dude111
10-26-2025, 03:12 PM
Thank you TMC :)