This is topic Film stocks of animated features? in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.
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Posted by Christopher Seo (Member # 7) on 09-21-1999, 04:50 PM:
"The Iron Giant", the only animated feature I've run, seemed more difficult to focus because the grain was less apparent. (Has anyone else had this problem?) At first I thought this might just be due to the intense color saturation characteristic of animated material, but then I got to wondering what was the film stock used to photograph the animation cels?Photographing animated features sounds like an ideal situation for the use of an ultra-low-speed, ultra-fine-grain camera negative stock, because (1) the area of illumination is very small, permitting a concentrated light source; (2) the exposure can be as long as desired, because the cel ain't going nowhere. Does anyone know what kinds of stocks are used, what ASA, etc?
I was just wondering: what kinds of amazingly sharp pictures could be achieved, using a camera film that is as low-speed and finegrained as print film?
Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 09-21-1999, 06:44 PM:
For what it's worth--I'm currently editing a 16mm documentary short. The titles were done at a place called "Frame Shop" in West Newton, Mass., which is just down the street (figuratively) from me. Anyway, the titles (white text/black background...pretty standard stuff) were shot on Eastman 7248, which is a 100 ASA tungsten-balanced stock. This is what they commonly use for titles and, I assume, animation as well (which they also shoot).
Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 09-21-1999, 09:48 PM:
Animation can be transferred to film in a variety of ways. Traditional cells can simply be exposed onto a color negative stock with sufficient speed for the light available from the animation stand, say an EI-100 tungsten balance film. Or (as Disney usually did for most of their classic animation), sequential separation (R, G, B) exposures can be made onto a single strip of black-and-white camera negative film like 5231 (great for archiving the image).If the animation output is from a digital file (as is now often done for "ink and paint" steps), the output can be recorded onto a camera negative film using a CRT recorder like a Solitaire, or onto a very fine grain (but very slow) color intermediate film like 5244 using a laser recorder like the Kodak Cineon Lightning laser recorder.
I'm sure that I'm forgetting several other workable methods, but my point is that depending on the method chosen, the image structure (grain and sharpness) and color reproduction will depend on the method chosen.
Let us know if you find out what method was used for "Iron Giant".
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John Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Professional Motion Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7419
Eastman Kodak Company
Rochester, NY 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Fax: 716-722-7243
Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 09-22-1999, 02:40 AM:
Remember to only hit the "submit" button only once! If nothing happens, just reload the film-tech page you want from your bookmarks. Your post will be there.Anyway, my copy of Iron Giant is so sharply in focus and clear on screen that it physically hurts. Which leads me to another question: When we get kids movies, they stay forever, whether they do any business or not. We still have Inspector Gadget and it was released a very long time ago, probably about 11 years (it seems). The movie is doing NO business, especially with the little tykes in school now. Does Disney make exhibitors sign ridiculously long contracts for their ridiculous movies? If I ever build a theatre, there will be NO kid movies allowed in the building! Also, if you are not old enough to walk in yourself, you can't get in (no babies)!
Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 09-22-1999, 05:00 AM:
I nuked your dupes for ya, John. 
Hey Joe, that was my idea! Thief! Seriously, I've always thought it to be disconsiderate to bring the little ones to theaters...especially with today's digital sound. There's no way it won't stir up the little tykes!
Then again, another thread somewhere one here suggests if the projectionist cranks it up loud enough, maybe they'll sleep through it. 
Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 09-22-1999, 08:04 AM:
Sorry for the multiple submits 
, but I was responding from home, using a modem, and the forum did not send the usual acknowledgement. So I grew impatient, and hit "Submit Reply" again, and again. Somehow, the connection was very slow last night.
Posted by Aaron Mehocic (Member # 15) on 09-22-1999, 08:17 AM:
Don't feel bad John. I had some problems last night myself with slow connections and getting kicked off. Hopefully, less people will be on-line in the coming days and we can talk about the more serious stuff with out any trouble.
Posted by Tom Ferreira (Member # 70) on 09-22-1999, 08:29 AM:
I didn't think of it at the time when it was (jokingly?) suggested that the sound be cranked to put babies to sleep, but at our theater we always strongly recommend against anyone bringing infants into the DTS auditorium. When the theater first opened, the management was told by a pediatrician that the sheer volume and probably the bass could cause severe damage to a baby's underdeveloped eardrums. It certainly makes perfect sense, and who am I to second guess a trained medical professional? Of course, when you tell this to someone with an infant, they look at you as if to tell you to mind your own business anyway. What it all comes down to is three things-
1-A lot of people are too selfish to do things that their kids may enjoy, as evidenced by the parents who take their kids to see Stigmata, when the kids are crying that they'd rather see Inspector Gadget.
2-Many parents are too cheap to hire a baby sitter.
3-Some parents are stupid enough to think that a one year old will be entertained by a 90 minute movie. I've often thought that if I were to play the appropriate film, Family Planning would make an ideal promotional partner for an in lobby display.
Of course, this is straying extremely far from the original thought of this thread.Tom Ferreira
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Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 09-22-1999, 07:22 PM:
Yes, it was Brad that I got the kiddie idea from. But you can't patent an idea! If I ever owned a theatre, it would still have the same rules. Maybe if people wouldn't pump out all of these kids it wouldn't be an issue Actually Brad has a bunch of great ideas for the cinema, but we'll have to wait until we build "the place" before we implement them, unfortunately.
Posted by Charles Everett (Member # 889) on 03-15-2002, 06:10 PM:
Bumping this up top since film stock is mentioned on the Ice Age thread in Features & Trailers.