I guess my thread title is a little incendiary--- I've liked a lot of the STORIES Pixar and Dreamworks have put out in computer animated form, but have found the visuals to be sterile and kind of cookie cutter (would that Kung-Fu Panda had been ballsy enough to do the whole film in the quirky style of the opening sequence). But in recent years I've been noticing a rash of computer animated children's cartoons --- usually from other countries--- that have a real charm to them. For me, they capture the hybrid innocence/weirdness that made me love a lot of 2D animated shorts from my childhood.
Has anyone seen Pocoyo before? Good sample at this link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bxu3jfqpItEThe simple character design, pantomime-driven plot and stark white (lack of) background give Pocoyo a really unique vibe, and a kind of dream-like sense of wonder I've felt in drawn animation, but haven't quite been feeling in American theatrical offerings for cartoon animation.
Anyone else have any thoughts on this? What are some good computer animated shows or movies that break the Pixar mold, and do their own thing in a new, beautiful way?