Realism // Cel Animation

Wrote up notes on the sections about Disney in the book "Understanding Animation" by Paul Wells.

Aquired a copy of Snow White to watch as an early example of good use of the multiplane camera.

Began researching Cel Animation:

"Definition: A cel is the transparent sheet of plastic upon which final animation artwork is transferred in order to be painted in and then laid over a background and filmed.

The line art of each frame of animation is either inked or copied onto the front of the cel, and then paint applied to the back. When the transparent cels are laid over the static backgrounds, they form a complete picture without having to redraw the same background for each frame of animation.

Early cel animation was done on nitrate cels, which are not only prone to decay, but quite flammable. Currently acetate cels, which are much less volatile and more durable, are an industry standard."

http://animation.about.com/od/glossaryofterms/g/cel_def.htm

http://animatedtv.about.com/od/thesimpsonsfaq/a/celanimation.htm

The Princess and the Frog

http://www.awn.com/news/films/lasseter-talks-princess-and-frog-and-2d

"I believe strongly that there are certain things you can do in 2D animation and still can't do in CG. I think, actually, when you look at PRINCESS AND THE FROG and the amazing animation of Louis the alligator, I'm not sure that would be quite the same way in computer animation. And I always say that if you look at SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS, that the animation of the dwarfs themselves is something that's pretty much impossible to achieve in computer animation. That fluidity, that squash-and-stretch, that kind of stuff just works with hand-drawn animation. Also, the rich painted backgrounds, we took a look at the films that Walt Disney made because I asked them to aim high: I said, 'Let's make great art.' So we chose LADY AND THE TRAMP and BAMBI for the bayou scenes, the nature, the way that that was represented there, almost an Impressionistic point of view at times. And then with LADY AND THE TRAMP, the scenes of the humans and the architecture of the character design is just the pinnacle of what was Disney's personal style."

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8380601.stm~ article about the heroine princess in The Princess and the Frog- Disney's ninth princess- being the first coloured

African-American princess. This is a "symbolic step for Disney" which has previously been accused of being racist.

"In fact, the film is also notable for rekindling the art of hand-drawn animation and hand-painted backgrounds, dropping the more contemporary reliance on computer generated imagery."

...

"When you are a child, what you are shown does affect you and I can remember when I was growing up not wanting to play with black dolls," she says.

Disney are keeping up with modern times: the new African- American president (though the film began production long before Obama was made president).

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On issues of race surrounding the film and false information on the internet: http://hollywood-animated-films.suite101.com/article.cfm/frog_princess_damage_control

"The Frog Princess was going to be the first cel-animated movie from Disney since 2005. Not only that, the Mouse House was bringing back the legendary team of Ron Clements and John Musker (Aladdin, The Little Mermaid) to develop the project.

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Photo Gallery: http://makingof.com/happening_now/media/the-princess-and-the-frog/disney-s-return-to-2d-animation/75/267

http://events.animationblogspot.com/2009/01/27/princess-and-the-frog-preview/

Pos #4: Case Studies

~ Watched Bambi and took note of the Disney characteristics of the piece, the effort with nature and the success of the film as a messege about animal cruelty, nature and beauty of the piece as an animated film.

~ Wrote a case study of Bambi

~ Began a collection of pieces of Disney things I find (like advertisements, pictures from magaines etc.)

~ Found a lot of resources in the library for Disney. Rented 4 books to read and photocopied some pages on Bambi.

NEXT:

~ Study the history of Disney's 2D animation a little bit more.

~ Watch more documentarys

~ Watch another animated film to write a case study on

~ Research The Princess and The Frog more. Book tickets to see this in the cinema on it's release. Prepare to collect information on this as it come out in the media such as reviews and box office ratings.

~Put all work to date onto usb pen and email account ready for printing out at uni.