Metropolis(1927)

In my undergraduate studies, one of my teachers always talked about the first sci-fi film ever made and its remarkable production design. This week I finally got the chance to watch it. The film tells a story about a humanoid who destroyed a dystopian regime and explored the deeper connection between classism and socialism. The art style of the film incorporates religious and spiritual elements, adding more visual interest. The hand-painted backdrops were used a lot, spaceships and traffic were animated on top to create a busy futuristic capital scene. I was amazed by how these simple paintings complemented the sci-fi genre, which is often associated with fancy CGI in today’s commercial films. I think it can be a brilliant technique to use in the backgrounds of stop-motion animations too.

During the screening, my friends and I arrived a bit late and our seats were located in the middle of the row. After the film ended, most people left before the credits started rolling. As we left, a lady sitting next to us expressed her annoyance, “because of you, I missed the opening credits and now I have to miss the ending credits.” I sincerely admired her respect for the filmmakers. It’s interesting how encounters with strangers in everyday situations, such as at the cinema, can provide insights into the diversity of humanity. These little stories always intrigue me, and I wonder about the lives of those I encounter. Perhaps these ladies were filmmakers themselves and hated seeing people disrespecting their works. Or maybe they were professors at a bankrupt film school who just lost their jobs and developed depression. Real humans are much more complex than fictional characters that animators and storytellers try to create. Daily observations are essential to making characters more convincing.

3D

In this weeks 3d class the teacher showed us an interesting essay on how the Disney style of character performance changed the whole animation industry and how it became the ‘default style’ of animation(the dramatic overuse of the 12 principles of animation). He mentioned an animation series called Roobarb which used an animating method that is distinct from the common Disney style. Its style was so refreshing when I first watched it, characters move in a more stiff manner but still so vibrant. I am from a set design background so my understanding of character performance is more based on real human actors in films and TV shows, so I am still not quite used the 2D cartoonish style and has been struggleing with every single animation exercise since I started MA. The essay and the Roobarb series have given me a new perspective on animation and helped me appreciate the diversity of styles that exist within the industry. While the Disney style may be the most popular and widely recognized, there are other styles that can be just as effective and engaging. As a result, I am now more open-minded and excited to explore different animation techniques and styles in my future projects. Despite the initial struggle, I am looking forward to learning and growing as an animator.