Final Exam Post: Animation for All Ages

From spectacles such as Up!, to anime’s that touch our hearts like Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, the best stories are often told through animation. They tell stories of super heroes, flying houses, princesses, and fairy tales; yet there is a preconception that these forms of entertainment are meant for children. Animation provides a medium to get across messages and themes that transcend the barriers of age. Whether you are a nine-year-old seeing a movie for the first time, or a parent taking his daughter to the theater, anybody can have a memorable experience if they are open to it. That being said, not everybody is. This begs the question, what is it about certain animations that make it appeal to a variety of age groups? and why is it that certain animations have stood the test of time and touch our hearts decades later?

                                              One of my favorite shows as a kid during the 90’s was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Humor is a great way to appeal to multiple ages, if done correctly. There is a certain subtly that needs to be used when trying to incorporate humor into an animation that can appeal to multiple age groups, one animation that comes to mind is Phineas and Ferb. What seems like a harmless children’s cartoon actually doubles as a clever satire on popular culture. A great example is the episode Tip of the Day where the main point of the episode is Phineas and Ferb spreading the word about the tip of the shoelace, which they discover is called an “aglet”. They then make a pop song about aglets, which doubles as a parody of modern music. At the same time the evil scientist has a video of him as a teenager that goes viral, again making fun of the internet age. Both instances in this episode provide humor on a child and adult level simultaneously.

As I grew up, my tastes changed. I started being less attracted to vivid colors and wild characters, and more towards stories and messages. Fortunately, this is something that the early 2000’s had in spades. Many shows came to mind when thinking about my love for early 21st century animation, Danny Phantom, Kids Next Door, Samurai Jack, Megas XLR, and my personal favorite, Fairly Oddparents. All these shows showed positive message that teenagers growing up in the early stages of the “Internet Age” could relate to. The animation that I watched as a young child up until I was about 16 or 17 was the most influential and memorable. I remember getting up on Saturday mornings to watch my favorite cartoons on the only TV in the house, making sure that everyone knew that it was my time to watch television. I would wake my mother and father up with my screams of excitement as my favorite characters triumphed over evil, or my cries of anger as the bad guys got away. To this day, I find myself having the same reactions as I did back then. It might be nostalgia, but I feel like animation has a way of connecting with people in a way that live-action cannot, and it keeps its appeal forever. I’m sure older generations feel the same way about Popeye or Mickey Mouse, it all depends on what animations you connected with.

 The youth empowering message of “Kids Next Door” is something I still feel more than a decade after the show’s premiere in 2002

 

One of  the most popular adult animations today is Family Guy

 

Animation has also become a mainstream form of entertainment for the adults of America. With shows like Family Guy and Archer coming to television screens around the world, it’s become perfectly clear that animation is not only for the youth of the world. These adult animations usually have themes that critique society in a much more blatant manner, and have more adult themes like sex, political issues, religion, cultural issues, current events, and more often than not, satire. These animations are designed to connect with an older audience(usually over the age of 17), and do so in the form of satire. Satire is a form of comical critique of popular culture. Family Guy is famous for its use of short scenes to critique current events, while American Dad focuses on the excess culture of modern America. Adult animations like The Simpsons have become embedded in popular culture, and animation has taken some cultures by storm. Manga is so embedded in Japanese culture that it is read just as much as the daily news.  Animation is just as entertaining for adults as it is for children, it just has to be done a little differently.

 

Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann is a Japanese animation that has themes that appeal to adults and children.

Animation is a timeless art, that can affect a person in any stage of life. All you have to do is be open to the experience. You can never be to old for cartoons, in fact I feel like you love them more with age. As a college student, I find myself watching a significantly larger amount of animation than I did when I was a kid. I appreciate it more, the hard work that the artist put into a character or scene, the story that the writers spend years trying to create, and even the beautiful music that composers put together. No matter the age, animation is something that can, and should, be enjoyed by people of all ages.What animations still get you to laugh, cry, or touch your heart? What is it about them that causes you to feel like a child, and truly believe what you see before you is real? The biggest question is, does a person ever get too old to be a child?

Final Weekly Post! Why HIST389 was the most useful class I took all semester!

It’s the end of the road, and what a wonderful and fun journey it has been. HIST 389 has given me the insight and knowledge to look at animation not only as a form of entertainment, but as a valid source of intellectual expression and historical importance. The discussions, lectures, films, and overall atmosphere in this class has allowed me to become a more open-minded historian. I really enjoyed every moment that I had in the class and will suggest it highly to all of my friends. It’s not just a fun class, it’s a class that has taught me a great deal. I have taken three main things away from this class above all else: critical analysis skills, appreciation for the art of animation, and using media to express myself academically. These skills are invaluable and are something I could have only learned in this course.

 

Disney was notorious for incredibly racist animations, mostly criticizing the Nazi regime.

We first learned about the history of animation, and were instructed to view animations in an academic light, as opposed to an entertainment source. We viewed many classic animations, from Disney classics like Pocahontas, to more recent animations like 9. We examined how these animations reflected ideals and values of the time they were created, and how they differ from modern ideals and values. By putting an emphasis onto these animations, how they were created, why they were created, and whom they were created for/by, it allowed us to have hours of discussion about an animation that might have lasted only five minutes. One of the most interesting conversations we had was our conversation on the film Ghost in the Shell. We spoke about the idea of a “distopia” and how the future might look like. We also talked about the show brought up very interesting ideas about technology, and how it may soon become so infused in our culture that nothing may seem human. It was the third or so time I had seen that film, and it was the first time those thoughts came into my mind. By looking at the animation in an academic way, and using the critical analysis skills I had gained throughout the course, it helped me appreciate the film as a whole that much more.

 

I gained a new appreciation for all types of animation, including my favorite form, video games. 

I have always seen animation as  a valid form of entertainment, but going through this class gave me a whole new respect for what I watch almost everyday. Whether its a short cartoon on television, or a full fledged game, I have learned how difficult it is to create a quality animation. We learned a great deal about the evolution of animation as an art form, and how technology played a huge role in its development and popularity. I would like to share one of my personal favorite animations, it is the intro cut-scene to my all time favorite video game, Kingdom Hearts (Link Here). I have been able to watch this animation time and time again with new love and admiration to all the work that was put into it(it’s also a phenomenal game so you should check it out). This course has allowed me to gain respect for animation not only as a profession, but as an art form.

 

I will end the semester with the same animation I started with, “Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann”

Finally, this class showed my how to use media to express myself academically. These blogs have helped my writing skills immensely, and have allowed me to develop my own writing style. That is something I did not expect I would be able to say at the end of this course, but I’m glad to be proven wrong. Overall, the class was a tremendous pleasure to take and I’m going to recommend it to as many people as a I can. I learned so much about history, animation, and even writing, that I truly believe that this was the most useful, and by far the most enjoyable, class I have taken this semester. If there was another section I would definitely take it! I will take my love of animation with me as this semester ends, and it is stronger than ever. I hope my blogs have let you into my world a little bit, and I’m sure that through animation our worlds will cross again. Unless it’s a tragedy animation, then everyone will die in the end…which is what we don’t want.

 

How Comic Books Defined America

I was at a loss this week, I had no idea what to write about. I was talking to my best friend about her blog, and bouncing off ideas with each other, I decided to talk about one of my favorite things(right behind anime), Comic Books!! I would like to briefly talk about why comic books are a valuable form of entertainment, their historical context, and some of my personal favorites.

 

The combination of text and animation allows for a unique experience for the reader.

 

Let me distinguish something, the comic book/graphic novel genre has very key differences than any other form of animation. It is different than animated cartoons in the way that it is all still frame, which pushes the reader to imply action between frames. Also the characters usually are human, and follow some form of overarching story line; as opposed to early cartoons which would use the same characters in every episode, but would not have an overall plot that would overlap episodes. Comic books have a lot of similarities with political cartoons, but even then there are some key differences. For example, most political cartoons are 1 frame, comic books are not. Political cartoon contain no plot, graphic novels do. The main difference between comic books and all other forms of animation, is that it is an episodic, still frame, plot-driven, animation that conveys an overarching story. It is for people who love animation, but also love to read. It allows for a slower-paced form of entertainment that I believe more people should get into it.

 

 

In the early years, Iron Man was used to illustrate the struggle of the Cold War and the “Space Race”.

 

Although I made a distinction between comic books and political cartoons, comic books at its inception were used to make huge political  statements. Iron Man was not always the lovable character that we see today played by Robert Downey Jr.. At the beginning, the Iron Man character was going to be the embodiment of the struggle between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Fighting against villains like the “War Monger” and “Crimson Dynamo”, Tony Stark was representing the technological race between the two countries. In similar fashion, “Captain America” was the story of World War II, and the US struggle against Nazi Germany. “Superman” was an illustration of the Utopian idea of America, and the idea of a “Metropolis” that still is in need of a hero. Today, many comic books/graphic novels are beginning to take influences and current events and convert them into political stances. Comic books hold a substantial amount of historical value and should be viewed with the same amount of respect as any other form of animation when examining history.

Some of my favorite comic books include Static Shock, Green Lantern: Blackest Night, Young Justice, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. I believe that these are a good variety of starting points for someone who hasn’t been exposed to the comic book genre. These selections have tones of comedy, action, dark drama, and even some futuristic political ideas. If you are interested in learning more about comics, check out comixology! This is the premiere online comic book and graphic novel distributor, they have ways to read your selections either on your computer, tablet, or phone! Check it out! You will not regret it! Plus, it won’t rot your brain, unlike television!

 

Man Vs. Disney: My “Frozen” Review and Opinions

Ok, the movie was really good. The movie was entertaining, funny, well-written, and had an amazing soundtrack. I was pleasantly surprised with the movie as a whole, but found 3 things catching my eye and consistently grabbed my attention. The unique twist on a classic formula, the variation of humor, and the importance of music, were all things that really drew me into the film, and ultimately made it an enjoyable experience. I like the direction that Disney as a whole had been taking with its animated films and hope to see this trend continue as the times change along with the animations.

I

The centers around the bond of two sisters, putting an emphasis on sisterhood and a different definition of true love.

Disney has been known to tell tales of princesses finding their “prince charming” and discovering “true love”, and Frozen takes this classic(and in my opinion out-of-date) formula and transforms it into something truly creative and new. The abandon the idea of a “prince charming” and replace it with a much more realistic male love interest. Hans represents the old; the old way of thinking and approach that Disney princess stories have been told and created. Kristoff represents the new era; an era where male leads have personality and are comparable to reality. He is not a prince, but an everyday working class male who can easily make a connection to any male, and his sarcastic sense of humor really made me chuckle a few times. In abandoning the “prince charming” formula, they changed the very definition of  the “true love” idea. They moved the idea of love from romantic to caring, when they focused on the sisterly bond between Elsa and Anna, making it the focal point of the entire film. I love to see Disney moving away from traditional storytelling techniques and moving towards more progressive and genuine ideas when it comes to their films. I think the focus on family ties was much more powerful, and sent a more realistic message to the youth who saw the film.

The second thing I found interesting was the variation in humor. There were multiple instances where the humor appealed to younger audiences, and at the same time made me laugh as well. A combination of physical humor along with clever references created a stellar blend of comedy that all audiences can enjoy. Kristoff really made me laugh with his sarcastic and bitter personality, while Olaf made me chuckle with his childlike appeal and off-handed references. The quick and clever humor of the trolls also made me laugh quite a bit. I really appreciated the film making fun of the idea of “love at first sight”, which has been a staple in Disney princess films since the beginning. This was a clear sign of a change of direction for Disney, and I’m happy to see it.

The trolls were by far my favorite characters. Why you ask? Why not?!? Look how cute they are!!

Finally, who can overlook the music in this. The music is good, but it’s not the best music I have ever heard. What I was excited about was the focus of music into the story line. Disney has recently strayed away from implementing musical pieces in their animations, but am glad to see them used effectively in this film. The songs were not there for show, they were always used to advance the overall plot. Whether that was advancing time(Do you Want to Build a Snowman?) or developing a character(Let it Go), the music in the film was used effectively and intelligently. As strategic as the music was, it had to sound good to be effective. Robert Lopez, along with his wife, wrote the music for the film. He is also the composer for one of my favorite Broadway shows, The Book of Mormon.  The music added that extra attraction that gathered people in droves to see the film, and as good as the music was, it was backed with a strong plot, convincing characters, and an appropriate theme.

Overall I liked the movie, I feel like it was a bit over-hyped. The movie had a great story, exceptional music, and convincing characters. I can appreciate what they were trying to do, and am please with the direction that Disney is taking as a whole. If I was a going to give it a rank, I would give it a 9/10. My only complaint was that the movie seemed a bit rushed, and everything was moving at a pace that didn’t allow me to fully enjoy the world they had created. I would still highly recommend it, but to me, its not something I would consider an “all time great”.

 

 

Man Vs. Disney: My “Pre-Frozen” Opinions and Expecations

“LET IT GOOOOOO!!!!” This is all I have heard for the past 2 months since the release of the Disney movie Frozen. I have yet to find the time or the motivation to spend 12 bucks to go to a theater and see it, but with its recent DVD/Blu-Ray release I plan to watch the film this Saturday. The following post will be about my mindset before going to see the film, what I will compare it to, my experiences with Disney animated films, and my outright disgust with most classic princess stories. Hopefully this film will be able to change my view on the genre, and I am doing my best to keep an open mind before I venture into the great unknown.

 

My experience with Disney films has been a very uninteresting one, as I always leaned more towards anime. Now if you know anything about anime than you know that it’s usually as far from Disney animations as you can get. Mainly I was attracted to Pixar’s darker and more mature themes and characters. So when approaching Frozen many questions arise in my head, what is the general theme and tone? Who is the targeted audience and does it appeal to others as well? Do the characters have some form of depth and realism that I can relate to regardless of their gender or role? These are things I will be looking when I watch the film this weekend.

Another point I keep hearing about is the story line. Now I have avoided spoilers like the plague, but the basic gist of what I have gathered is that it is a the main character, a princess, named Anna is set to find her sister who has frozen Anna’s kingdom. The basic promise is simple, and focuses on the efforts of a strong female character. Lately Disney has created very empowering female leads as opposed to the “damsels in distress” that have made the franchise famous in the past. I am anxious to see how the story unfolds around this trend, and whether or not they take the stereotypical prince and turn him into something with subsistence. When it comes to story, I am most eager to see how the story will appeal to me personally. Can it grab the attention of a man who watches anime’s about dystopian futures, corruption, and explosions?

Up! was really appealed to me, with it’s realist tones of life and death, it appealed to all audiences. 

I’m going into this weekend blind, without spoilers or outside opinions. The only thing I have heard was the the music in the movie is really good(I’m a sucker for a good soundtrack). I have a few worries and questions going into the film, but I am trying to have an open mind. I will be back next week with my review, and I hope it will be a good one. Either way, it’s been a while since I’ve sat down and watched a film, so I’m going to enjoy this particular blog post. Stay tuned for my report on my Disney expedition, and wish me luck. Hopefully I make it home without have a need to dress up like a princess and sing to animals.

Mid-Term Post(Post 1.2)

From spectacles such as Up!, to anime’s that touch our hearts like Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, the best stories are often told through animation. They tell stories of super heroes, flying houses, princesses, and fairy tales; yet there is a preconception that these forms of entertainment are meant for children. Animation provides a medium to get across messages and themes that transcend the barriers of age. Whether you are a nine-year-old seeing a movie for the first time, or a parent taking his daughter to the theater, anybody can have a memorable experience if they are open to it. That being said, not everybody is. This begs the question, what is it about certain animations that make it appeal to a variety of age groups? and why is it that certain animations have stood the test of time and touch our hearts decades later?

                                              One of my favorite shows as a kid during the 90’s was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Humor is a great way to appeal to multiple ages, if done correctly. There is a certain subtly that needs to be used when trying to incorporate humor into an animation that can appeal to multiple age groups, one animation that comes to mind is Phineas and Ferb. What seems like a harmless children’s cartoon actually doubles as a clever satire on popular culture. A great example is the episode Tip of the Day where the main point of the episode is Phineas and Ferb spreading the word about the tip of the shoelace, which they discover is called an “aglet”. They then make a pop song about aglets, which doubles as a parody of modern music. At the same time the evil scientist has a video of him as a teenager that goes viral, again making fun of the internet age. Both instances in this episode provide humor on a child and adult level simultaneously.

As I grew up, my tastes changed. I started being less attracted to vivid colors and wild characters, and more towards stories and messages. Fortunately, this is something that the early 2000’s had in spades. Many shows came to mind when thinking about my love for early 21st century animation, Danny Phantom, Kids Next Door, Samurai Jack, Megas XLR, and my personal favorite, Fairly Oddparents. All these shows showed positive message that teenagers growing up in the early stages of the “Internet Age” could relate to. The animation that I watched as a young child up until I was about 16 or 17 was the most influential and memorable. I remember getting up on Saturday mornings to watch my favorite cartoons on the only TV in the house, making sure that everyone knew that it was my time to watch television. I would wake my mother and father up with my screams of excitement as my favorite characters triumphed over evil, or my cries of anger as the bad guys got away. To this day, I find myself having the same reactions as I did back then. It might be nostalgia, but I feel like animation has a way of connecting with people in a way that live-action cannot, and it keeps its appeal forever. I’m sure older generations feel the same way about Popeye or Mickey Mouse, it all depends on what animations you connected with.

 The youth empowering message of “Kids Next Door” is something I still feel more than a decade after the show’s premiere in 2002

Animation is a timeless art, that can affect a person in any stage of life. All you have to do is be open to the experience. You can never be to old for cartoons, in fact I feel like you love them more with age. As a college student, I find myself watching a significantly larger amount of animation than I did when I was a kid. I appreciate it more, the hard work that the artist put into a character or scene, the story that the writers spend years trying to create, and even the beautiful music that composers put together. No matter the age, animation is something that can, and should, be enjoyed by people of all ages.What animations still get you to laugh, cry, or touch your heart? What is it about them that causes you to feel like a child, and truly believe what you see before you is real? The biggest question is, does a person ever get too old to be a child?

Animation: Showing You The Past

A good cartoon can often be better than a history text book. Many animations have done a masterful job of displaying public opinion along with the values of a generation. When I think of this type of animation, I immediately think of political cartoons. Political cartoons are able to illustrate a particular point of view in as little as one or two frames. Using vivid exaggeration is often a key to political cartoons. Below is one of the most iconic political cartoons,  Theodore Roosevelt made a real connection with the American people through the story of him refusing to kill a bear cub that one of his advisers had captured for him. He said that there was no honor in killing a cub, much less one who had been captured for him. After that took place, this cartoon was made. It immediately connected with the people, and the Teddy bear was immediately transformed into a national icon. The political popularity of Roosevelt and the iconic teddy bear was all started by an animation.

There is a lot more to say, but this particular topic is better used for a discussion rather than a lecture. The question is, can animation be used as a historical tool to be used in educational settings? I believe that the answer is yes. Animation reflects opinions, tell stories, and show not only political events, but the struggles of everyday life. Remember Rosie the Riveter? Animation is just as good as any textbook, and should be respected as such.

Pokemon>Everything Else

No other animation has affected the global market and made as much of an impact as Pokemon. After having our lesson on Anime I really began to think of this phenomenon, and began to ask myself “why?”.  Why did this particular anime rise to the prominence it did when it was released in 1996? And why has it kept, and even increased, its popularity up until today? I believe it is due to 3 major factors: The target age group, the general story and concept, and the video game market. I will not spend too much time on this, but I feel like this is important.

The first factor is the target age group. Being someone who grew up in the 1990’s I can attest to the HUGE impact Pokemon had. The 1990’s was a time where the world was just beginning to become a global community. With the rise of the international community, Pokemon was in a prime position to make an impact on the 8-14 age group. This specific age group would grow up to be some of the most socially active of all time, and in doing so, by creating Pokemon with the design to be a social game with trading and battling involved, it was pure brilliance to have Pokemon emerge in that time period.

The second factor is the general story, which is one of adventure. This story is a little bit different than most other stories of adventure, as there is a direct connection between the main character and the audience. The main character is the same age as the target audience, and the story is an ever evolving one. The main goal is simple, become the best. A very broad goal, which allows the animators and writers to change how they want to approach that goal. It allows for multiple story lines, multiple characters, and allows the animation to connect on multiple levels.

The final factor is the huge impact on the video game market Pokemon had. How does this tie to animation? It shows that animation does not solely have an impact in animation, but other media sources as well. The music of Pokemon has become iconic among its cult-like following, and among the entire generation that it affected.  The Pokemon video game series allowed the animation to spread to an even greater audience, and made it easy for the video game audience to connect to the animation. The video game series made Pokemon an experience, as opposed to an animation.

In summary, Pokemon has become the most popular and influential animation of all time. The timing of its release,  the clever and broad story line, and the expansive video game series are all major factors when assessing the importance and role of the Pokemon series. To this day, Pokemon remains strong on all three fronts, and I believe will stay that way for a very long time.

What Makes Anime Different?

As we approach this coming week where we will discuss the anime genre, I would like to take this post to talk about anime in general. It’s definition, defining characteristics,  and why I believe it to be the most entertaining. Lets start with the first question, “What is an anime?”. Merriam-Webster defines anime as, “a style of animation originating in Japan that is characterized by stark colorful graphics depicting vibrant characters in action-filled plots often with fantastic or futuristic themes”. As great of a definition as this is, I have created my own. Anime is an animated depiction of real life emotions. What I mean by this is that anime, unlike any other genre, has the ability to convey emotion in a vivid, real, and personal manner. The style of anime makes it the perfect medium for amazing stories and characters to emerge that can bring rise to powerful emotions.

Let’s explain the defining characteristics of anime. There are three main features of an anime, the style, the characters, and the story. First, let’s look at the style. There are multiple styles an animator can use, it depends on the sub-genre of the animation. Romance, comedies ,and children’s animes usually have a more rounded style. The environment is usually colored with lighter colors, and the characters have more rounded features. In more dramatic animes the style is more angular, and obviously the color scheme is darker. The overarching characteristic is that exaggeration is a core technique used in anime. The exaggeration of facial expressions and character features is key to an anime.

The last two are very much intertwined. The characters and story of an anime are extremely different than those of other types of animation. They are often original stories, unlike those of early disney animation, and they are often set in an alternate or futuristic setting. The story usually involves some form of extravagant goal, usually the core battle of good versus evil. The often have some more mature language and themes, but only when it is necessary to add to the story.   Characters are also incredibly different. They are usually young, early teens or 20’s. They often are incredibly driven and powerful, or are cunning and intellectual. The main character usually always has some sort of human element that makes it easy to relate to him or her. The main character almost always goes through some sort of personal transformation, showing character progression.

Overall, anime is an unique style of animation that holds a special place in my heart. If anyone needs suggestions for good animes, or wants to suggest one to me, please feel free to approach me and talk about it. The best animes are the ones that are shared anyway 🙂

New School vs. Old School

From political cartoons to CG, animation has evolved much more rapidly than anyone could have guessed. What began as a way for primitive humans to depict real life events has become a modern form of entertainment. But how far has animation changed since the days of our youth? Growing up in the 1990’s, I got to be a part of a true revolution of animation in the United States.  With shows like Pokemon, and Spongebob Squarepants, and movies like Space Jam, I felt like a kid in a candy store watching everything around me. Most of which had great plot and characters, and had a great message behind the story. Today, that isn’t the case. The animation you see today, even though it may be entertaining, has lost its moral value. With few exceptions like Phineas and Ferb, little of what the youth of America is watching today promotes positive ideas and leaves a positive impact. For example, although The Misadventures of Flapjack is entertaining, the message behind it is one of vulgarity and disregard for authority. The question I pose it, do you notice that the animation today isn’t as good as the ones you grew up on? What made it different? And why is it that those animation you saw as a kid you still remember today?