Ice Age 5: All in one go, all in five

Hailey 2022-01-06 08:01:13

Yesterday in DreamWorks is today in Blue Sky Studio.
What's more, the latter does not have the multi-IP blessing of Xiaojinren.
As a studio that has been involved in 3D animation for a long time, Blue Sky Studio has maintained a workshop-sized production scale for many years. The scarcity of the number of round works can almost catch up with the Oscar professional Pixar, but the concept and quality have never been as high. However, even if the number of works is so small, "Ice Age" is the first 3D animation series to shoot the fifth; even if it is placed in the entire movie circle, the original series can grow to this level, which is not small. Miracle.
But unfortunately, this miracle should have been shattered long ago.
Short-sightedness is the fatal shortcoming of Lantian Studio, and it is also doomed to its lonely destiny early on. For example, "Rio Adventure" went from stunning to its decline. It was completely the result of not making progress with the hot spots. There is no new idea from the plot to the character design. It is almost a reprint of "Ice Age".
Blue Sky: we make sequels out of cliches.
Almost all the most glorious moments of "Ice Age" are in the first two games . In the first episode of the establishment of the trio, everyone has their own minds, the roles are developed, the story is interesting and magnificent, and the relationship between humans and animals is very novel and effective; in the second episode, we saw the introduction of new members, which did not break the original Some relationship patterns, while the story is continuing to develop and explore the characters, relax and not make noise. However, subsequent sequels can no longer maintain this stability. "Ice Age 3" is boring but still interesting, while "Ice Age 4" has already begun to disappoint. The whole story has lost its meaning and spirit, although There are also individual highlights (such as Peter Dinklage), but they are too far away from a qualified sequel, almost reduced to the level of TV animation.
Blue Sky Studio apparently recognized this problem, but it did not make a decisive change in "Ice Age 5". The new director, Galen T. Chu, who took up the post, made a lot of efforts to squeeze in as much material and characters as possible, but he was obviously overstretched and bloated, and tired of digesting.
Since the "Ice Age" series has straightened the mammoth Manny into the first protagonist, it has been almost step by step and unsurprisingly tells every step of marrying a wife, giving birth to a child, and raising a child. If there is also "Ice Age 6"-yes No surprise, no less unexpected—it must be a road trip that is unnecessary but necessary to stretch while stretching, while telling the story of Manny being a grandfather, adding gag and grievances.
That's right, it's so cliche.
Vulgarity is not a problem, but it must be effective. "Ice Age 5" obviously does not fall into this category. What kind of treatment this series should have, perhaps using 20th Century Fox resources to develop TV outreach and expand the worldview is the right way.


After more than 10 years, "Ice Age" and "Toy Story" have witnessed the technological progress of 3D animation in every episode. From the earliest large polygons to today's hair and light and shadow special effects, it is a milestone of the times. But a good animation is never about the effects of the picture or what a novel world view-"Big Fish and Begonia" on the other side of the ocean obviously did not recognize this problem-but a good character and a good story. The best part of "Ice Age 5" is to make full use of the character charms that have not yet been fully utilized in the series. The return of Buck and the rubber squirrel Schlett—the classic image without lines perfectly inherits the typical character characteristics of the golden age of 2-dimensional hand-painting— -Full of vitality, the details are amazing, and compared with the uneven distribution of the protagonist group, it takes away all the brilliance. The soundtrack of the duo is also the most eye-catching and whimsical, full of inspiration, especially Buck's debut in "The Barber of Seville", which cannot be praised any more.
The customary opening show of the mascot Squirrel Sclett is the most comical scene in "Ice Age 5"-kinda sad-making full use of facial expressions. Physical comedy and visual effects are indistinguishable from Simon Page's passionate voice acting for Buck.
However, the worst part of "Ice Age 5" is that it is too heavy and bloated. Not only does the story want to include more content, each regular character and recurring character must have its own independent clues, like Diagora Lang in Ice Age 4, it must be matched by Hidra Lang, and "Ice Age 4" also needs to leave room for Manny’s path to parenthood, and work towards realist family soap operas. It also has to put a seemingly dangerous revenge story for Wild Buck, and even add it to this revenge story. Add a classic routine of self-knowledge and self-affirmation.
The result of all this is to make the whole story seem hurried and extravagant, a large number of potential excellent plots have not been fully developed, and the love life like Diago has been subjectively ignored. A large number of characters are mixed in, too many newcomers and old people have almost no time to occupy the screen. The only really interesting ones are Buck, Schlett and Allie. As a veteran highlight, Diago is still a lot of fun but no room at all. Manny has been basically boring since the second episode. Sid is even more annoying than ever this time, with an exceptional personality disorder and excess self-awareness, and there is almost no interesting plot. There are some humorous moments in the script, but it is too ordinary, far less familiar than the previous series.
In short, the disappointment of "Ice Age 5" is much greater than that of "Ice Age 4". As another sequel animation, it has been severely hurt by the story of fatigue and indigestion.


Family and marriage have always played an important part of the story in the "Ice Age" series, so as to avoid getting into the dilemma of being too entertaining. Today, being conservative and not daring to break through is the biggest enemy of "Ice Age".
When you look back at the first "Ice Age" in 2002, it is difficult to imagine that the sequel to this steady-paced and great potential nature film will become its own negative teaching material in all aspects. Compared with the series of bad animation works that DreamWorks abandoned after 10 years, as a typical representative of family animation, "Ice Age 5" is still above average, giving priority to the entire family watching group. Some of the visual effects of the movie are amazing, and fans of the series should also be able to enjoy the fun of waiting for a long time, but it is difficult for this sequel animation to do much under the general environment of 2016.
Each has been leading the way for several years, but Baobao Di remained unmoved. Can't keep up with the thin and dead big camels, and can't keep up with the big dark horse of the little yellow man's family, the light entertainment, the Blue Sky Studio ended up going home to grind, which is obviously something that no one wants to see.
Send love to tomorrow, why not review the past and learn the new?

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Extended Reading

Ice Age: Collision Course quotes

  • Sid: [Speaking into a twig like it were a phone] I can't find the bride. Why can't I find the bride?

    Diego: Because you're speaking into a twig.

    Party Molehog: [Also speaking into a twig] Mom, I can't talk right now. I'm at a wedding.

  • Sid: Hurry, Granny!

    Granny: Don't hurry me! I've been struck by lightining...

    [Is struck by lightning, seemingly killed]

    Sid: Granny!

    Granny: [Is struck again and brought back to life] ... more times that you've had breakfast.