Tuesday 27 October 2015

6DM022: Week 2 (22nd-28th october): group discussions

As part of research, one of our main tasks is to be about to produce information based on sources we look at and create an argument of our own to add the topic board as it would give a new perspective into the subject matter.

For this matter the topic I've chosen to do was Children and Animation and I would be working with fellow students Andrew Taylor and Richard Bailey who have also chosen this topic.

below shows the notes so far on the subject at hand:


Stereotypical

Animation that people think it’s just for children.

Great examples of animation that isn't just for kids is family guy, the Simpsons and South Park. These are good examples as they are able to acknowledge and use a large variety of subject matter to present their characters in other forms of light and express their different types of personalities and traits. Whereas child friendly shows and films are constrained to feature certain subject matter which can sometimes feel the same especially if the subject matter in question is related to films plots like Cinderella or the little mermaid, presented in one form or another.

What makes the use of adult topics to strengthen the seriousness of animation is that use of vulgar, satire humour aswell as their presentation methods can easily relate to topics and stories that are happening in the world at this present moment, making the plots believable and understandable in what the show is trying to tell the audience as a whole.

Having complex plots being understood by adult audience members can reflect some forms of society in one way or another.

If it was stuck for children, it makes it feel that animation is stuck in a gutter and can’t be about to break that boundaries and see it animation from another perspective. For new artists that want to go into the industry, makes them feel that animation can’t tell a story or visualize it a way they want it to be.

Video games are a good example of using animation as they use this to present the visuals of multiple genre based stories like horror, realism plus the hidden humour that only adults can understand.

What makes it worse is that being believed just for kids is that it wouldn't be taken seriously in the eyes of big critics and when it’s being presented at award ceremonies. But animation can be taken more seriously because the teams behind the creations are more flexible in how they want to approach the visuals and crafting the best way to tell a story. Animation can also do a better job that live action as they can get weird and unusual when creating story elements and also how they can represent society and culture.

Another way animation can be taken seriously and break the boundaries of viewership is that it’s an art form because when animators draw, they are able to move freely in how they want to stylize and tell the story. It also makes each individual piece unique and separate to other forms of animation.

As an adult when the term ‘it’s just for kids’ or ‘why are you watching this kid’s stuff’ it makes a person feel like they want to explode as kid shows or films such as inside out or SpongeBob can inspire people to be acknowledge-able in what they want to do when creating a story of on their own terms. It’s also a fact that many films and animation programs can contain deeper stories means and themes that only adults can generate better than children. So, if we as adults keep thinking that this is just for children then we are missing out on well produced storytelling that might have more understandable plot points and a deeper connection to a wide age variety of audiences than other forms of film making.

When it comes to parents, they don’t acknowledge the fact that when their children are watching cartoons they don’t realize that the subject matter they see are reflecting how children are going about in their daily lives which sometimes would make it easier for children to open up if their problems relate to what’s happened when they've watched particular animation shows or films. This also can present sensitive and complex issues that kids can understand better if the simple plot has a deeper meaning that needs explaining such as death, puberty and the way the world works.

Research links

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