Brittany

Brittany Ramos LP Outline

Journal Entry – Week 11 (long paper outline)

Exploring Innovation and Influences of Inside Out

Inside out: One of the main reasons I chose to write about Inside Out is because of it’s creative depiction of human emotion. Inside Out resonated with many people due to its exploration of complex emotional themes and its ability to capture the intricacies of human emotion in a way that feels authentic and relatable.

Describe the film:

-Synopsis:

Inside Out is a 2015 Disney-Pixar animated movie that explores the emotions of an 11-year-old girl named Riley Andersen. The movie is set in the mind of Riley and features her five core emotions: Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust. The emotions are personified and live in Headquarters, the control center of Riley’s mind.

The movie follows the emotions as they try to navigate the challenges of Riley’s life, which includes moving from Minnesota to San Francisco. Joy, who is the primary emotion, tries to keep things positive and upbeat, while Sadness, who is usually overlooked, starts to play a more significant role in Riley’s emotions.

As Joy and Sadness try to find their way back to Headquarters after getting lost in Riley’s long-term memory, they encounter various aspects of Riley’s personality, such as her imaginary friend Bing Bong and her core memories. Along the way, they learn about the importance of all emotions, even the ones that are difficult to experience, and how they all play a role in shaping who Riley is.

The movie ultimately shows that it’s okay to feel sad or angry sometimes and that these emotions can lead to personal growth and resilience. It also emphasizes the importance of having a support system and communicating one’s emotions to others. Altogether, Inside Out is a heartwarming and insightful movie that appeals to both children and adults.

Contextualize the film:

Film background

Director
- Inside Out was produced by Pixar Animation Studios and was released by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. The movie was directed by Pete Docter, who also co-wrote the screenplay along with Meg LeFauve and Josh Cooley. The film was produced by Jonas Rivera, who had previously worked on other Pixar films such as Up and Monsters, Inc. Inside Out was a critical and commercial success and was nominated for numerous awards, including the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, which it won.
- Cast
- The voice cast of Inside Out includes:
- Amy Poehler as Joy, the emotion that represents happiness and optimism
- Phyllis Smith as Sadness, the emotion that represents sadness and melancholy
- Bill Hader as Fear, the emotion that represents anxiety and fearfulness
- Lewis Black as Anger, the emotion that represents anger and frustration
- Mindy Kaling as Disgust, the emotion that represents disgust and cynicism
- Richard Kind as Bing Bong, Riley’s imaginary friend
- Diane Lane and Kyle MacLachlan as Riley’s parents
- Kaitlyn Dias as Riley, the 11-year-old girl whose mind the story takes place in

Animation

-“Animation of Inside Out took a year and a half. About 48 animators (including supervisors Shawn Krause and Victor Navone, and director Jamie Roe), and 350 artists (35 of them lighting–led by cinematographer Kim White–and 10 layout) and technicians were involved in the production of the film. Two other animation teams were also produced: one was separate for abstract sequence and another was crowded for the character process.The team utilized unique technology to locate every part of the human body.” wikipedia

Analyze the film (highlight its relationship to the works/concepts we covered this semester.) This is where I want to hear YOUR thoughts on the piece:

How YOU feel it relates to the history of animation:

-Inside Out is a groundbreaking film that reflects the history of animation in a number of ways. The film is notable for its use of advanced computer animation technology to create a vivid and immersive world of emotions and memories. This represents a continuation of the long tradition of technological innovation in animation, which has been a hallmark of the medium since its earliest days.

-Winsor McCay? (week 3)

How is it visually distinct/similar to what came before it?

-Toy Story (Week 12)

-Iron Giant

-Spirited Away (? Week 13)

-Eggleston (Toy Story 3/ Up)

What are it’s influences outside of animation (painting, comics, live-action film etc.)

Comics and Graphic Novels
Live-Action Film

Which works from previous eras/cultures seem to have influenced the work (technically, aesthetically, narratively, politically etc.)?

-Inside Out is a highly original and innovative film that draws on a wide range of influences from previous eras and cultures. Its unique blend of surrealism and animation technology has helped make it one of the most acclaimed and beloved animated films of recent years.

-Reference:

-Surrealism and Dadaism

-Japanese Animation

How does it depart from its influences?

What is the filmmaker trying to express/convey?

Is it innovative (technically, aesthetically, narratively)?

-Technically:

-Aesthetically:

-Narratively:

Is it representative of the place and time it was created in (or is it trying to )?

-Yes, Inside Out is representative of the place and time it was created in, as it reflects the cultural and social context of contemporary America and the larger global context of the early 21st century.

-Mental health/psychology

-Chellenges of youth and growing up

Do you think the filmmaker could have made different choices that would have led to a stronger piece? (briefly cover opinion on different choices?)

-Creative process is personal, although Disney/Pixar has historically played to adult humor, creating fun films for people of all ages. I felt this film missed the mark here.

Quote from at least two of the assigned readings to support your analysis.

REFERENCES:

Week 12
Week 4

Specific Parts of the Film to Explore:

-1st sequence with turning wheels

-The first sequence of Inside Out with the turning wheels is the film’s opening credits, which serves as an introduction to the film’s central concept and sets the stage for the story that follows.

Neon light sequences

-The sequences are created using a technique called “unlit textures,” which involves rendering objects without any lighting or shadows, creating a flat, graphic look. The neon lights are then added in post-production to create a vivid and striking visual effect.

The use of unlit textures and neon lights creates a dreamlike, otherworldly quality that is both visually captivating and thematically resonant. The sequences are a striking example of how animation can be used to create unique and innovative visual styles that enhance the emotional impact of a story.

-Absolute film

-Disney /Pixar early influences

-Going through 3 phases of shapeshifting (finding train of thought)

– dada influence?

-The Shape Shifting sequence in Inside Out is a scene where one of the main characters, Bing Bong, manipulates his shape and form to help Joy and Sadness navigate through the maze-like landscape of Riley’s subconscious.

– fantasia?

Subconscious sequence
End core memory sequence
- The Core Memory sequence in Inside Out is a pivotal moment in the movie where the main character, Riley, experiences a traumatic event that leads to the loss of one of her core memories. The sequence is notable for its visual style, which combines elements of traditional animation with abstract and surreal imagery, creating a dreamlike and emotionally charged atmosphere.

Inside Out Influenced by Previous Films

-Like many films, Inside Out was influenced by previous animated movies, both in terms of storytelling and visual style.

Musical Score

-“Michael Giacchino served as composer for Inside Out.[66] He began planning in January 2015,[67] before concluding that May.[20] While in the music session, Docter felt its score “bittersweet” and “nostalgic” after he “grew up playing the violin and bass”.[34] Giacchino wanted to create something more emotionally monumental for Inside Out’s score, when compared to his score from Up.” Wikipedia

BrittanyRamosW10

Journal Entry – Week 10

Rick and Morty is a very popular adult-animated cartoon. Recently, one of the episodes featured the main characters visiting a Panda Express, a popular fast-food chain found around the US. Not all product placements are as obvious as characters visiting a known restaurant. Some more subtle examples are; main characters drinking certain branded drinks in scenes, for example RuPauls Drag Race features a new alcoholic beverage every season that the drag queens exclusively drink. Branding can also be found on the clothing the actors wear, the cars people drive or even restaurants shown in the background of a scene. The list is endless.

BrittanyRamosW8

Journal Entry - Week 8

The Czech government refused to distribute Jiří Trnka’s short film “The Hand” because it was considered subversive. Czechoslovakia was under communist rule at the time of the film’s release, as mirrored in the film’s protagonist’s inability to free himself from the ruling hand (of the government). The protagonist is a puppet who is seen caring for its plant and working on pottery; at one point, we see the hand forcing the puppet to craft a relic of the hand. As the puppet and the hand go back and forth, you get the feeling of oppression the communist party is known for.

BrittanyRamosW7

Journal Entry - Week 7

Private Snafu – Fighting Tools was a series designed to instruct GIs in military techniques and utilized humor to encourage the troops and emphasize the consequences of not following orders. In this short, Private Snafu discovers what happens when his rifle isn’t properly cleaned when encountering an enemy Nazi.
This episode uses voice when both Snafu and the Nazi sing songs regarding the various weapons that Snafu had neglected to clean, and there are even rodent and duck characters who sing as well. Drawing and movement are also used. While the short is in black and white, shadows emphasize sizes and shapes, for example, the size difference between the Nazi and Snafu. I believe the story itself is the most powerful tool because, in the end, Snafu becomes a POW, all because he didn’t take care of his tools properly.

BrittanyRamosW5

Journal Entry - Week 5

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was a groundbreaking movie when it was released in 1937. Utilizing the multiplane camera, animation reached new heights. Though all seven dwarfs were animated similarly, with large heads and cartoonish squat bodies, each had different personalities and visual traits. For example, Bashful blushed when Snow White guessed his name and moved in a way that showed his childlike shyness, fidgeting, and hiding behind his knotted beard. Another dwarf named Grumpy was drawn with a scowl and snapped back when Snow White asked, “How do you do?” Grumpy had narrow eyebrows, his body language was stern, and his arms were crossed, signifying he was not interested in socializing as the other dwarfs were.

Brittany Ramos SP Outline

Journal Entry - Week 4 (short paper outline)

“The Adventures of Prince Achmed” by Lotte Reininger is regarded as one of the first animated feature films, and was released in 1926. With a running time of 1 hour and 7 minutes, a film of such artistic caliber and length had never been seen before.
Not only is the film visually stunning, both in color and technique, but Lotte Reininger was an artistic mastermind and a female! Several vital elements of Reininger’s film, as well as her background, warrant recognition.
*Reininger’s utilization of the “Scherenschnitte” technique
*The original score that was composed in collaboration with the film, utilizing photograms created by Reininger
*Reiningers inspiration to produce short films and who her artistic partners were
*How her environment impacted her choice of story content
*”The Adventures of Prince Achmed” and the impact the film had on animated feature films that followed

Brittany Ramos WK 3

Journal Entry - Week 3

Winsor McCay’s “Gertie the Dinosaur” and Emile Cohl’s “Fantasmagorie” are two of the earliest animated films. “Fantasmagorie” is considered the first wholly animated film and is a series of transformations, with the unnamed main character continually evolving into another scene. Cohl drew each drawing on white paper with a black line and inverted the process for the final product, which was only a little over a minute long.

McCay’s “Gertie” is a more complex short that combines animation and real scenes, with a much longer result at almost 14 minutes. McCay developed techniques, such as using registration marks and identifying key positions, that later became standard in animation.

A notable difference in the films is the inverted process in “Fantasmagorie,” which gives it its black background, whereas “Gertie” has a white background. “Fantasmagorie” is a very fast-paced short with a lot of activity happening with the simplistic, stick-figured main character transforming into several different scenes and objects in what appears to be a very fluid storyline. “Gertie” has a more developed storyline involving the relationship between the main character, Gertie and McCay. Gertie interacts with McCay and engages with other objects in the scenes, such as an elephant and a tree that she devours. Both shorts take on a comical approach.

Brittany Ramos W2

Journal Entry - Week 2

In the late 1700s, many people witnessed death firsthand due to the French Revolution, leading to a fascination with la mort. But people had yet to see optical illusions of the “Fantasmagorie” caliber, or any at all! If seeing is believing, Gaspard Robertson wanted you to believe you were in the presence of the departed by utilizing optical illusions, mirrors, and smoke. Being an audience member at one of Gaspard Robertson’s “Fantasmagorie” shows would have been absolutely terrifying. Seeing ghouls and hearing them play harmonica would’ve made me an assured believer in the afterlife. “Fantasmagorie” proves that although terrifying, people have always enjoyed horror’s rush and heart-stopping effects.

Those who enjoy similar effects today tend to frequent haunted houses during Halloween or even haunted mazes. You may prefer a more immersive experience, such as an escape room. I am a fan of escape rooms, as they add the extra element of solving a puzzle while several optical illusions and sensory effects happen in tandem. If you find the right escape room experience, your heart may jump out of your chest as a closet pops open or a piano begins playing.

I will never forget my first Fantasmagorie-esque experience. I was about seven years old, and my grandmother and mother insisted I would love the Haunted Mansion ride at Disneyland. Not two minutes into the ride, I squeezed my eyes shut as hard as I could. I had witnessed enough after the mirrors of haggard women whose eyes followed you as you ran down the hall to the awaiting carriages. Towards the end of the ride, a voice came over the loudspeaker warning us of ghostly hitchhikers that would surely follow us home if we weren’t careful. As soon as I opened my eyes, I saw myself staring back at me through a mirror, but I was not alone. What was sitting beside me? A hitchhiking ghost.

Brittany Ramos WK 1

Journal Entry - Week 1

Hi everyone, my name is Brittany, and I am entering my 3rd semester at BMCC. I am a Business Administration major, and I plan on attending Baruch to complete my undergrad in Sustainable Business. My goal is to work with entrepreneurs to build green business models.

I am an active person and am passionate about travel and health. I am an avid runner and will be running the NYC United Half, RBC Brooklyn Half, and the NY Marathon this year! Because I am such an active person, I LOVE all types of food, especially anything I can cook quickly.

I am taking this course because I would love to tap into my creative side while learning math and other sciences this semester. I hope learning about something as fun and exciting as animation can be my happy place!

My favorite cartoon is The Simpsons, created by Matt Groening in the 80s. The Simpsons started as a short sketch on the Tracy Ullman Show before becoming its own cartoon. Yes, I am dating myself here. While I don’t remember when The Simpsons originally aired, I do remember not being allowed to watch The Simpsons because my mother didn’t believe it was a show suitable for children. Over the years, The Simpsons have evolved in animation techniques and show content, showing no signs of slowing down!