Issues in Representation

To be honest I found this chapter to be a tedious read. Normally I don't condone looking so far into something as simple and innocent as animation. But after many of the examples and analysis of various famous character such as popey and Micky Mouse, I was successfully convinced that the issue of representation is something you can't escape whether or not you like it. Because the animation will always be interpreted through the eyes of whoever is watching it, and everyone, no matter what shape or color, watches cartoons. So animations will always try to make a connection with its most likely demographic. There could be a group of character that each sort of carve out a different demographic to get everyone covered. How bout Transformers 2? There were two new transformers introduced that talked in "slang". Obviously this is a represention of the modern perception of urban inner city culture. There was apart in this film that these two robots confessed that they couldn't read. Did the producers not realize how that could have been perceieved extremely negatively? Or did they do it on purpose?
Undoubtedly it is the responsibility of the artist or animator to always be conscious of these issues. And that is why many cartoons seem to have no gender and race at all, because it delicate territory to treed on indeed.

Masking Exersise pt2

Second part to masking exercises. Not in any way related to the last one. Just messing with masking and effects.

To do this wall shatter effect you need 3 copies of the layer you want to shatter. First make the mask on the original layer. Copy it for 2 more copies. Change the masking options for one of the to be "subtractive" as apposed to "add". This layer will serve as the layer with the hole in it. The "add" layer will be the layer you add the effect to. And the 3rd layer which will also be an "add" layer is there to fill the hole till you want it to shatter.

3d Exercise

My 3d exercise with some effects. After going back to my second masking assignment I realized why the wireframe stayed behind.
When you put an effect on a layer, make sure to change the view option to "rendered" so that the wireframes will not stay behind once you render out the whole thing. I had forgotten to do that in this case.

issues in representation.

The chapter begins by reminding readers that people see animation as an innocent medium for children. These people underestimate the meaning and portrayal of animated characters. Describing the degree of Popeyes masculinity, and questioning the effects of spinach on Popeye but none of his enemies, Wells proves how male characters are masculine and female characters are secondary in importance to the story. wells also points out that the female characters have exaggerated, unnatural female features. features like eye long lashes and big chests. The chapter gives credible examples like Popeye, Superman, and Mickey Mouse. Each of these characters are masculine and have a female counter part Olive Oyl, Lois Lane, and Mini Mouse. I agree with Wells but he says nothing about todays animation. Computers have completely changed the animated world and I wonder if Wells still believes the same thing about todays animation. Also, it is not just the technology that may have changed the "issues of representation" but the characters Wells exemplifies are from the 20's and 30's. Many women didn't work at all and fewer worked in the male dominated film industry. Race was also still a predominate issue that could explain the stereotype of race in animation during the age of Popeye and Micky Mouse .

Understanding animation ch 5

I found the chapter to be very enlightening and articulated a lot of ideas that are often denied by those in power- the animators and those who are empowered by the stories of masculinity and otherness.

"Womens' animation recognizes the shift from the representation of women as object to the representation of women as subject" (p. 200)

The chapter gave many examples of stereotypes and inequalities in charachter exhibited under the guise of comedy or "innocent" animations. The attitude of the animators always needing someone to marginalize for the butt of the joke is an unfortunate side of mainstream animation.

Final Project Animatic

Project 6