Animation Analysis

Week 2 
10 October - 16 October

Animation Genres

In the same way that we can characterize the music we listen to and the films we watch, animations fall under similar groupings. Examples are Political, Abstract, Paradigmatic (exploring the concept of paradimes) and Primal (containing animalistic themes, in turn making us question our humanity).
 In more detail:


RE NARRATION uses expectations of stories as stimuli for re-direction. This may take a well known story such as Red Riding Hood, or less well known stories and narrative strands from the point of view of an object, animal or form without a voice. The creator benefits from being able to make a narrative from established themes and motifs whilst avoiding expected outcomes. (Source: P, Wells, Basics Animation 01: Script writing)

More Sex and Violence (Bill Plympton) This animation contains multiples skits containing the concept of re-narration, one playing on the phrase "Elvis has left the building" where Elvis has an iron stomach and eats everything in his sight, so when he inevitably vomits it back up, the narrator calls out "Ladies and Gentleman , the building has left Elvis".



DECONSTRUCTIVE animation is when it steps out of its own boundaries, where a character might speak to the audience, or a way of showing how the artist is involved, hinting to the illusion of how an animation is made. Used for comedic or intellectual effect.


Manipulation (Daniel Greaves) is a perfect example of this, where the artist is seen to be directly interacting with his character; and where the audience is allowed an insight of the drawing and design process. The hardship that the character goes through and their fluctuating relationship is used for comedic effect.



FORMAL animation is one that focuses intensely on one characteristic: narrative, character, colour, sound/music, technique or movement. By focusing and possibly repeating a technique, we can be taught something about the narrative.

For example in the Roadrunner series the Roadrunner makes the Coyote fall off the cliff in every episode with the repetition making it more and more funny, but without interrupting the plot. Therefore this device teaches us how to set up a narrative structure to tell jokes; as well as making us consider the premise behind fairy tales and how the "baddies" are always doomed to fail.

We also see repetition in the Looney Tunes cartoon series with the phrase "Eh, what's up Doc?" being delivered by Bugs Bunny. Tex Avery commented that "We decided he [Bugs] was going to be a smart-aleck rabbit, but casual about it. That opening line of 'Eh, what's up, Doc?' floored them. They expected the rabbit to scream, or anything but make a casual remark. For here's a guy pointing a gun in his face! It got such a laugh that we said, 'Boy, we'll do that every chance we get.'" [source: http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/406400.html]