When you watch an animated movie or show do you ever listen with a critical ear? Do you tend to analyze what you're hearing or just sit back and enjoy the show?

Thank you.

I only put on my critic's ear if the piece either fails to entertain, or has "stick out like a sore thumb" casting that takes me right out of the story. Otherwise, unless I've been specifically asked, or feel, in some way, compelled to pay special attention to one particular aspect or another, I'd normally just take in the work without analysis or professional judgment - as any casual audience member would.

Have you ever been embarrassed by a performance in a major production or was it enough to make you cringe?

I'll echo CB's reply, and add-

I enjoy immersing myself into the story and allowing it to all unfold before me. Though if I'm particularly moved or stirred by a scene, I'll make a mental note for later reflection and study. This is one reason why I'm not particularly fond of commercial Television, with all it's pesky adverts.

Recently I was asked to review and critique a student film. For this I put on my old editors hat and picked it apart with honesty, and made suggestions for clarity of story and such. But I viewed it first as a "whole story," before making judgment- it's the only fair thing to do. I do this for the eye as well as the ear. For the ear: A little "music appreciation" trick I learned is to close the eyes and let mind create the images.

Yet with some regret, I have not always been entirely fair to a production because of particular "opening cues" that are to me hallmarks, if not outright telltale signs of putrid crap. I'm sure you've all experienced it; you're not thirty seconds into the opening credits and for some reason it's already like nails on a chalk board. Whether it's just a bad day on my part or what, I can't say, though rarely is my initial response ever rebuffed.

If carefully studied, much can be learned from such poor productions. When I can stomach it. I like to figure out where the director is trying to take the story, and or why it's failing to entertain me.

I'm in complete agreement with those comments...

(CB, referring to the question from Tom Wagner,
"Have you ever been embarrassed by a performance in a major production or was it enough to make you cringe?"):

Without pointing fingers, I'll have to say yes: Inept performances, especially by otherwise competent actors (perhaps miscast or badly directed), can really "blow it" for a production, no matter how lavish. All the worse, if that performance is actually praised - or even hyped - as a major selling point for the project.

Beyond cringeworthy, one very popular animated feature, a few years back, had a lead performance that literally made me nauseous (hint: it was not the work of a professional actor, but the film's creator/director - who bungled a character voice clearly associated with a well known top-notch voice talent). At the intended emotional peak of the story, the cloyingly saccharine delivery of what was supposed to tug at the heartstrings - tugged at my gutstrings instead. Blecch!