Agreed. South Park was at its best at the beginning of its run when it was a surreal comedy deriving most of its humor from profanity and discussions of mature and taboo topics to and between children characters who didn't understand that stuff at all. Sure there was some soapboxing, but it didn't get in the way of the rest of the show. But that changed over time. More and more episodes became about Current Thing of the Week and it got less funny as a result, feeling more like Matt and Trey's weekly rant which would age like milk within a couple weeks after airing once the Current Thing stopped being topical.
I should have been more clear, by 'traditional animation days' I meant when the bulk of animation done across the board, not just at South Park was drawn on paper and transferred to cels for ink and paint. Then to glass sheets for framing and picture taking.
But you're right. As far as I know, the very first episode was construction paper and cardboard cutouts. But I don't know if beyond the pilot and maybe an episode or two of the first season if they continued that.
It was just the pilot that did the paper cutouts thing. But I miss when they still made it appear as though it were animated that way. Had a lot more charm when the backgrounds were as simplistic as the characters.
I think South Park was more funny when they weren't a current news show.
When they were doing their own thing, making their own stories, it was fun and interesting.
But that was back during the traditional animation days, too.
Agreed. South Park was at its best at the beginning of its run when it was a surreal comedy deriving most of its humor from profanity and discussions of mature and taboo topics to and between children characters who didn't understand that stuff at all. Sure there was some soapboxing, but it didn't get in the way of the rest of the show. But that changed over time. More and more episodes became about Current Thing of the Week and it got less funny as a result, feeling more like Matt and Trey's weekly rant which would age like milk within a couple weeks after airing once the Current Thing stopped being topical.
Pretty sure South Park was always made in Maya. It was never stop motion cutouts.
I should have been more clear, by 'traditional animation days' I meant when the bulk of animation done across the board, not just at South Park was drawn on paper and transferred to cels for ink and paint. Then to glass sheets for framing and picture taking.
But you're right. As far as I know, the very first episode was construction paper and cardboard cutouts. But I don't know if beyond the pilot and maybe an episode or two of the first season if they continued that.
It was just the pilot that did the paper cutouts thing. But I miss when they still made it appear as though it were animated that way. Had a lot more charm when the backgrounds were as simplistic as the characters.
Yes. They use Maya. The very first thing was done with cutouts, but once they got their deal with Comedy Central they switched to Maya.