Category: Design for Animation

This week, we learned about the history and evolution of animation. It was fascinating to see how animation grew from a mix of social changes, political revolutions, and new technology.

The Early Days of Animation
We looked at some of the first animators and their work. James Stuart Blackton created films like The Enchanted Drawing (1906) and Humorous Phases of a Funny Face (1907). His work showed how animation went from simply showing the artist on screen to making the drawings come alive on their own.

Emile Cohl, another pioneer, made Fantasmagorie (1908), one of the earliest French animated films. It had quirky characters and random transitions, which made it exciting and different. These early animators weren’t just telling stories—they were experimenting with new ideas and ways to use animation.

Animation and Modern Art Movements
We also learned how modern art movements like Dadaism and Futurism embraced animation as a new way to challenge traditional art. Animation allowed constant change and transformation, breaking the usual rules of painting and filmmaking.

Dada and Surrealism used animation to mix high art with popular culture. They also addressed important social and political issues, showing that animation can be more than just entertainment—it can carry deep and meaningful messages.

Technology in Animation
Advancements in technology played a big role in animation’s growth. For example, Raoul Barre’s peg system and the use of acetate cels made animation production faster and more efficient. This reminded me of tools like Unreal Engine 5, which help us speed up the creative process today.

Avant-Garde and Experimentation
The avant-garde movement saw animation as a way to play with abstract shapes, colors, and time. Artists who wanted to move beyond traditional painting turned to animation because it gave them more freedom to experiment.

Movements like Futurism, Fauvism, and Cubism were inspired by these experiments. They used bold colors and unusual designs to push creative boundaries. I found this inspiring, especially when we talked about Walter Ruttmann’s Lichtspiel Opus 1. His idea of “eye music” made me think about my own projects in Unreal Engine, where I try to combine visuals with meaning.

Art Basics: Principles and Elements
We also learned about the basic tools of art, which help in creating strong visuals:

Principles of Art
Rhythm: Repeats elements to create movement.
Balance: Keeps the artwork stable, either symmetrically or asymmetrically.
Emphasis: Highlights differences to grab attention.
Proportion: Shows how different parts relate to each other.
Gradation: Gradual changes in size or color to add depth.
Harmony: Combines similar elements for unity.
Variety: Uses different shapes, sizes, and colors to add interest.
Movement: Guides the viewer’s eye across the artwork.
Elements of Art
Line: A point that moves, creating shapes or patterns.
Shape: Flat, two-dimensional areas in art.
Form: Three-dimensional shapes, like cubes or spheres.
Value: How light or dark something is.
Color: Includes hue (the name of the color), value (light/dark), and intensity (brightness).
Texture: How something feels or looks like it feels.
The Golden Ratio
We also looked at the Golden Ratio, a tool used to create balanced and pleasing designs. Found in nature, like in shells and flowers, it helps artists place important parts of their work in a way that feels natural and harmonious.

My Thoughts
This week gave me a better understanding of how animation grew over time, influenced by art, technology, and social changes. I loved learning about how animation connected with modern art movements, inspiring bold ideas and breaking traditional rules.

I’m excited to explore more about these influences and how they continue to shape animation today.

This week, we started learning how to create a critical report as part of our “Design for Animation, Narrative Structures & Film Language” module. It gave us a clear understanding of how to approach research and organize our ideas.

Getting Started: Structuring the Report
We were taught how to structure our critical report into key sections:

Introduction (200 words): A brief overview of the topic and the purpose of the report.
Critical Review (250 words): A summary of research sources and how they helped meet the objectives.
Main Body (800 words): The main discussion with findings, evidence, and sub-headings for clarity.
Conclusion (250 words): A summary of what we learned and recommendations for future work.
References: A list of sources using the Harvard referencing system (at least five academic ones).
This breakdown made it easier to see how everything fits together and gave us a good starting point.

Choosing a Research Topic
Picking the right topic is important. We were advised to choose something that excites us and makes us want to learn more. The topic should connect to existing research and be relevant to the animation field.

The goal is to make our research meaningful to others and show how it could influence theories or practices. It also needs to meet the requirements of the assignment brief.

Thinking About Ideas
As we discussed the report structure, I started brainstorming potential topics. One idea I liked was how narrative structures in animation affect audience perception. I think this could tie into my future animation projects and help me connect theory with practice.

Connecting Research to Our Work
The session encouraged us to think about our career goals and what areas we want to specialize in after graduation. We reflected on the skills we need to develop and how we can showcase our work during final shows.

An interesting point was how our research can either directly link to our practical projects or explore something entirely different but still useful for our understanding of animation.

Developing Research Skills
We talked about how research can help us expand our knowledge of a subject we’re passionate about. It’s also a chance to understand how our work fits within the bigger picture of historical and modern animation practices.

The session highlighted the importance of critical thinking—questioning, analyzing, and understanding the context of our findings. This approach will help us improve both our theoretical knowledge and practical skills.

Creating an Audio-Visual Presentation
Another task we were introduced to was creating a 5-minute audio-visual presentation. This will summarize the key points of our report, such as the goals, research process, and findings.

The presentation should be short and visually engaging, focusing on the main ideas rather than long explanations. It’s also an opportunity to reflect on personal goals, future projects, and the impact of our research on animation theory or practice.

Reflection
This session has helped me understand how to approach my critical report step by step. It also inspired me to think about interesting topics and how I can connect research to my work in animation.