Animation Research 1B

Daniel Tyrer's Animation Research Blog for the Unit 1B Essay

[dantyreranimationresearch1b]

List of Sources Used

These are a list of sources that I have found and have used or not used

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2704454/ - Little Witch Academia IMDB Page

http://bestanimationbooks.com/general/the-meaning-of-shapes - 13/02/17 - A good page that focuses on semiotics

http://craftywriters.club/books/christopher-vogler-the-writers-journey.pdf - One of my main relaibale primary sources

http://www.utdallas.edu/atec/midori/Handouts/Principles.pdf - 17/2/17 - A handout on the principles of animation, taken from The Illusion of Life book

17/2/17 - Into the Woods book by John Yorke

http://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/humanoids/the-uncanny-valley - an Article on the Uncanny Valley

18/02/17 - The Foundations of Screenwriting by Syd Field

http://www.kimhartman.se/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Summary-of-screenplay-by-syd-field.pdf - The Summary of the Book above

https://www.amazon.com/Maps-Imagination-The-Writer-Cartographer/dp/1595340416 - Maps of the Imagination book

https://writersedit.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-world-building-how-to-write-fantasy-sci-fi-and-real-life-worlds/ - 20/2/17 - An article about how to worldbuild

[dantyreranimationresearch1b]

Weekly Summary 14/2/17 - 21/4/17

This week was mainly focused around finishing off my essay and handing in my first draft. After my draft was handed in I made the appropriate edits where needed, finished my bibliography and include new and other sources that I have used post first draft. 

[dantyreranimationresearch1b]

This will be the film i’m analysing and comparing to Little Witch Academia, which is the first movie in the Harry Potter trilogy of films “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”. 

[dantyreranimationresearch1b]

Weekly Summary 7/2/17

This week I watched the other live action movie I will be analysing, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”. I made notes on the narrative as well as the charactesr and their roles in the narrative. I’ve also payed attention to how much the Hero’s Journey applies to this movie, and I will most likely explore this in my analysis

[dantyreranimationresearch1b]

Trailer for the short film Little Witch Academia, the animated short film I will be analysing. 

[dantyreranimationresearch1b]

Weekly Summary 31/1/17

This week has been quite unproductive. However, watch the Little Witch Academia short film and made a few notes on the narrative and character designs, which are aspects I can research and mention in my essay. 

[dantyreranimationresearch1b]

Weekly Summary 25/1/17

This week we went over the basics of writing the essay and what to look out for. I have also decided my question and short film. My question would be “Can only be done in animation, to what extent do you agree with this statement”. And I have chosen to analyse the Japanese animated short film Little Witch Academia and compare it to the first Harry Potter Film.  

[dantyreranimationresearch1b]

Weekly Summary 17/1/17

This week we looked at the three acts of the hero’s journey. These three acts are

Act 1 - Setting up the plot, with the hero’s wants and needs

Act 2 - The hero has trouble getting it 

Act 3 - Hero overcomes obstacle 

[dantyreranimationresearch1b]

Frozen Analysis of Plot Functions

1 - One of the members of a family absents himself from home. 

This is evident with the Death of the Protagonist’s parents after their voyage by ship to a far away land. 

9 - Misfortune or lack is made known, the hero is approached with a request or command he is allowed to go or he is dispatched. 

This is seen with Anna’s departure to help save Elsa from the antagonist’s attempt to seize the throne. 

12 - The hero is tested interrogated, attacked, etc, which prepares the way for his receiving either a magical agent (object/animal) or helper (magical person).

After Elsa attacks Anna, Anna seeks help from trolls to give her magical information

15 - The hero is transferred delivered or led to the whereabouts of an object of search (often located in another kingdom)

This is evident when the group of heroes find out about Elsa’s new whereabouts (back in town)

18 - The villain is defeated

The previous antagonist is defeated by the hands of the group of heroes (after scaring him)

28 - A false hero presents unfounded claims

Hans’ role in the story is that he plays the false hero and love interest

31 - The hero is married and ascends the throne

Elsa isn’t married, but she does take the throne as an independent woman. 

[dantyreranimationresearch1b]

Weekly Summary 10/1/17

This week we focused on exploring the narratives of traditional and modern fairy tales. These range from the fairy tales Disney portray as well as their darker origins. We also learned about Plot and Narrative functions (Which there are 31 of them). 

[dantyreranimationresearch1b]

Weekly Summary 13/12/16

This week we focused on story and plot, as well as how they differ. Story is the order of events that happened, whilst plot focuses on why said events happened. We also discussed whether animation can be the perfect medium for certain narrative genres. 

[dantyreranimationresearch1b]

Weekly Summary - 5/12 - 9/12/16

This week in Narratology we learned about the different types of plot structure and how this can be applied to any form of media such as film, books and even adverts. One of the plot structures that we learned about was the “Freytag’s Pyramid” plot structure. This Christmas’ Sainsburys advert was used a primary example to have a look at these kinds of plot structures. 

[dantyreranimationresearch1b]

Gerrit van Dijk - Pas a Deux

Short Film - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZN4TBn9C1Zk

In Collaboration with Monique Renault, this short film was drawn on cell paper using watercolour pencils, which can be seen in their texture. The shapes of the characters create shapes that morph into different pop culture icons throughout the ages from Marilyn Monroe to Mickey Mouse for comedic effect. This can only be done through traditional frame based animation. This would therefore make it difficult to recreate with a live action film, as people can not change their form and looks so easily as well as so creatively as it was done in the animation.