The return of 2D animation? Concept art for Disney’s Rapunzel

Thanks to Disney taking a reviewer’s words too seriously about 2D animation being dead, plus the amount of forgettable garbage being put out in the late 90s/early 2000s kinda dug a grave I guess (Although, I dont care what anyone says, Treasure Planet was AWESOME)

But with the coming release of The Princess and the Frog, and upcoming 50th animated feature in the Disney Classics coming in 2010 (Rapunzel), it looks like a raging return of animated awesomeness.

Check out the concepts HERE

Directed by Byron Howard & Nathan Greno (the co-director and head of story on Bolt respectively), this new telling of the classic fairy tale, will transport audiences “to a stunning CG fantasy world complete with the iconic tower, an evil witch, a gallant hero and, of course, the mysterious girl with the long golden tresses. Expect adventure, heart, humor, and hair, lots of hair.”

Previous director Glen Keane developed a new look for this computer animated film, which is said to look and feel more like a traditional hand-drawn Disney Classic, but in 3D. Apparently the film uses a non-photorealistic rendering technique which will make the surface look like it is painted but still containing depth and dimensions. The movie’s visual style is being based on French Rococo artist Jean-Honore Fragonard’s painting “The Swing.”