The landscape of feature-length animation has dramatically shifted towards computer-generated (CG) animation, with groundbreaking films like Puss in Boots: The Last Wish and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse showcasing its advanced capabilities. This emphasis on CG, however, has inadvertently pushed traditional hand-drawn 2D animation to the sidelines in mainstream Western cinema. While countries like Japan continue to champion 2D animation with hits such as Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, and a few Western examples like Klaus have emerged, the medium has largely vanished from prominent animated productions.

Kevin Lima, the acclaimed director known for beloved films like A Goofy Movie, Tarzan, and Enchanted, offered a thoughtful perspective on this transformation during a recent discussion ahead of his panel celebrating A Goofy Movie's 30th Anniversary at the Lightbox Expo. Lima expressed his disappointment regarding the near abandonment of 2D animation, noting that unlike previous technological advancements, CGI's rise has led to 2D animation being