Category: Design for Animation

For this critical report, I first identified my key topics and collected relevant quotes from academic and critical sources I had previously researched. I structured the main body of the report by analysing these quotes and building connections between them. To determine positive and negative case studies, I researched which films had been most widely reviewed in terms of representation and where public and critical consensus clearly identified them as either successful or problematic. Based on this, I selected Coco as a positive example and Pocahontas as a negative one, and completed the report by analysing both films through the same critical framework and supported by sources.

This project proved to be genuinely eye-opening. After completing the report, rewatching these two films made the differences in cultural representation between them much more apparent. Moving forward, I believe I will continue to apply this analytical framework when engaging with media that represents cultural communities, evaluating such works not only critically but also ethically.

I would like to thank our tutor, Nigel, for his guidance throughout this process.

AUDIO VISUAL PRESENTATION:

This week during the session we talked about the audio visual presentation we’re going to do as a part of our final assignment. 

I’m currently in the research phase for my critical report. I found useful articles and videos about my topic. I will be continuing my research and narrow my key topics down to 2-3. Next week, I’m going to discuss these resources I found with Nigel.

Cultural diversity in communication:

Ethical guidelines for animated videos:
https://www.mooviemakers.co.uk/ethical-guidelines-for-animated-videos-for-your-business/

This week in class we continued with different writing approaches and the guidelines for referencing, thesis writing and citations. The session was productive, and after the class I had a chance to discuss my research proposal topic with Nigel.

I originally identified a few key topics, but this would be too broad for a 1500-word research project. So, I will keep looking for resources for all of them. Once I have a better idea of what is out there, I will choose two or three to study in depth.

• The rise of cross-cultural storytelling in globalized animation industries

• When stylization becomes stereotyping in 3D character modeling and world-building

• The role of cultural consultants, community involvement, and diverse production teams

• Economic power imbalances and Western profit from cultural borrowing

• Positive examples of authentic cultural appreciation in 3D animation

• Negative examples where cultural motifs are used superficially or commodified

In the next few weeks, I will keep gathering academic resources and case studies that are related to these points so that I can choose 2–3 of them to write about in my final essay.

This class introduced the basics of how to write a clear, well-organized literature review. We learned how to find useful sources, spot gaps and themes, and put the review together in a way that tells a clear story. The focus was on combining research, not just summarizing it, and using outlines to help with good academic writing.

This week, I kept working on my topic by doing more research and looking into more detailed sources. After reading the literature, I finally decided on the topic and started to get a better idea of where I wanted to go with my project. I’m starting to see stronger connections and arguments coming together. I’ll talk about them more in next week’s one-on-one tutorial.

This week we had our 1-1 tutorials with Nigel to discuss our Research Proposals. I did some research and decided on the topic of aesthetic orientation and how it’s formed. After my discussions with Nigel, I focused on the cultural appropriation vs cultural appreciation in 3d animation.

After my research, I formulated a new critical report topic which is “Cultural Appropriation vs. Cultural Appreciation in Contemporary 3D Animation: Ethical Boundaries, Industry Practices, and the Impact on Global Audiences”

I want to look into how modern 3D animation deals with the tricky line between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation. It will look at how studios use cultural elements like character designs, clothing, architecture, mythology, and storytelling traditions, and it will also look at where respectful representation ends and exploitative borrowing begins.

In the next week’s session I will be sharing this idea with Nigel to be able to move forward with my research.

In this class, we learned how to choose a research topic and turn it into a clear argument. You should pick a topic that interests you, fits with your subject area, and is narrow enough to be researched well. It shouldn’t be too general or too easy.

We also talked about how the whole project should be based on a research question. You shouldn’t just be able to describe it; you should also be able to explore it and argue about it.

It’s important to use your own voice when making an argument. You need to show what you think and give proof from trustworthy sources to back it up. A good argument has a clear structure, it introduces the problem, reviews what others have said, presents your findings, and ends with a conclusion.

Based on this knowledge, I’ll conduct some research to select a topic and construct an argument. I will be preparing resources and filling up the Research Outline for our one-on-one sessions next week.

Overall, I realized that great research starts with a strong question and proceeds through clear thinking, credible sources, and belief in one’s own views. That’s what I’ll be keeping in mind during my research.

This week, we talked about the mise en scene which refers to everything visible in the frame: settings, props, costumes, lighting, and character positioning. Through the research assignment we got, we were able to analyze how every aspect combines with each other to set the mood, emotion and atmosphere. 

I initially examined the scene in which the Witch poisons the apple. The Witch’s dark basement with the green steam coming from her pot, makes the scene look scary and dangerous. The skulls, smoke, and shadows make it even scarier. The main prop, which is the apple, distinguishes itself from other objects due to its color. The Witch’s black cloak, wrinkled face, and crooked posture make her look old and evil, in contrast to Snow White’s pure look. Close-up views of her creepy smile and the shining apple create tension and show her dark power.

I proceeded to analyze the frame from Anomalisa. The positioning of the characters within the scene, along with their body language and facial expressions, shows the emotional isolation between them. The soft/nude color palette and subtle lighting establish a melancholic ambiance that aligns with the mood. 

Then, I analyzed the scene from Rebecca that shows how effectively mise en scène works to communicate relationships. The positioning of the characters (one standing confidently, the other appearing more hesitant and intimidated) reveals the existence of a power disparity between them. Every element, from the characters’ costumes to their manner of speaking to one another, contributes to our understanding of the underlying emotions and relationships.

Overall, this assignment has taught me to look beyond dialogue and narrative, and to concentrate on the visual language of cinema instead. Mise-en-scène is not merely decorative; it functions as a form of narrative through imagery, color, and composition. Gaining a deeper understanding enhances my perception of films.

This week in Design for Animation, we learned about animated documentaries and how they combine factual storytelling with creative visuals. The class covered how animation can show real events, ideas, or feelings in ways that live action sometimes can’t. We also talked about the problems of using animation in non-fiction, like whether it makes things less real or makes it harder for the audience to connect.

I thought it was interesting that animation can make serious or abstract topics easier to understand while still conveying truth. The session showed me how animation can be both expressive and informative. Overall, it was a useful discussion that showed how design choices influence how stories about real life are told and received. He also shared some resources that we can explore about politics in animation and film. I’m also excited to discover how political themes can be applied in animated works.

This week’s class focused on experimental animation and the ideas of formative and conceptual abstraction. We watched a range of short films that explored colour, shape, rhythm, and sound instead of following a traditional story. Some were created directly on film using scratches or paint, while others used abstract movement and repetition to create a visual rhythm, almost like music.

We talked about how early artists used animation to try out new ways of expressing themselves after watching the movies.  They didn’t just see movies as a source of entertainment; they also saw them as a way to be creative and experiment.  I thought it was interesting how much emotion and meaning could be shown without words or people—just through movement, sound, and timing.

We also talked about how these early experiments changed animation today and how technology keeps giving artists new tools to use.  In general, the class helped me understand that animation is more than just telling a story.  It made me think about how shape, rhythm, and visual structure can convey ideas on their own, which is something I want to learn more about in my own work.

This week, we talked about how to create stories and how editing and character design help bring them to life. Our main topics were narrative structure, character development, and film editing.

We started off with narrative structure, which is basically how a story is created from beginning to end. We also covered the Five-Act Structure and how every story moves through balance, conflict, and resolution. I found it really interesting that even small details, like adding a new challenge or a side story, can make a big change in keeping the audience engaged. I also realized how important it is to plan each scene thoughtfully so the story flows naturally.

Next, we went onto character development. We learned that strong character design drive the story forward. Heroes, villains, and side characters all have different roles, and their decisions shape the direction of the plot. We looked at examples of several character types and discussed how their objectives, emotions, and changes help them feel authentic.  What struck me the most was how much the ending depends on the characters – a well-written conclusion may keep readers pondering long after the narrative has ended.

Finally we discussed editing.  Editing is more than just combining clips together; it is also about managing rhythm, time, and emotion.  We learnt about continuity editing, which makes a film appear smooth and natural, and montage editing, which can create surprises or emotional effects.  I find it really interesting how editing can make time appear to be continuous even when it is not.  The “invisible” nature of editing, or making cuts that the viewer does not see, demonstrated the strength of this art form.

Overall, this week taught me how storytelling, characters, and editing work together to bring a story to life.  I’ve started watching movies differently recently, focusing on how they’re made rather than just what they depict.  I feel like I now have a greater understanding of narrative and can apply what I’ve learned to make my own efforts more creative and meaningful.