Journal Entry – Week 11 (long paper outline)

FROZEN 2013

Princess Elsa of Arendelle has the ability to generate and freeze ice and snow, and her younger sister Anna enjoys playing with her. When Elsa mistakenly uses her powers on Anna and nearly kills her, their parents take them to the trolls, who save Anna’s life and make her forget about her sister’s talent. Elsa returns to the castle and withdraws to her room, fearful of injuring Anna with her growing strength. When their ship sinks in the ocean, their parents perish, and Elsa’s coronation forces her to open her castle gates to rejoice with the people three years later. Anna meets Prince Hans during the party and falls in love with him right away, deciding to marry him. Elsa, on the other hand, objects, loses control of her powers, and freezes Arendelle. Elsa flees to the mountain, and Anna joins forces with Kristoff, his reindeer Sven, and the snowman Olaf to track her down. They track her down in her freezing castle, where she accidently strikes Anna in the heart; now, only real love can save her sister from death.

Outline:

–Title, release year, studio, etc

– Dimensions

– Story synopsis 

– Animation style/what does it look/sound like?

– Music

Contextualize:

– The story’s beginning

– Production duration

– Animation technique, significant technical and stylistic advances

— Who are the characters in the film, and what role do they play in the plot?

— Critics

Analyze:

— What happens in this movie?

— How did everything start?

— Which is the main point of this movie?

— How does the main character feel about it?

— What can we learn from this movie?

My long paper topic: Ratatouille 2007 film.

Describe

1. The year of release, studio, director, and movie length.

2. Summary of story main characters and plot.

3. Style of animation is it 2d/3d? what does it look/sound like?

4. Music

Contextualize

1. Production length
2. Animation technique
3. Animator roles/how many people were involved.
4. Any troubleshooting.

Analyze

1. How is it visually distinct/similar to what came before it?
2. How does it hold up today?

Long Paper topic: Death Note
Death Note is a Japanese manga series written by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata. A 37-episode anime television series adaptation, produced by Madhouse and directed by Tetsurō Araki, was broadcast in Japan on Nippon Television from October 2006 to June 2007. An American film adaptation of this anime was released exclusively on Netflix in August 2017 and a sequel is reportedly in the works.
The story follows the novel of a character named Light Yagami, who uses the notebook he found in order to cleanse the world of those humans which he deemed unfit for society, basically terminating criminals . A team of professional investigators set out to find out the mysterious killer and arrest him, and thus many other characters are introduced until Light is eventually caught.
One of the main reason I am drawn to this anime will be the storyline. The concept and the twists are otherworldly. With the new remake at 120 fps the visuals looks stunning. Although Death Note is banned in many countries because some authorities thinks it ‘misleads innocent children and distorts their mind and spirit’. Still I would say that this anime has a very interesting storyline and it has gained huge popularity around the world.

Things I will be working on for this long paper assignment:

• Introduction
• Description of the anime
• Contexts and production of the anime
• Analysis
• Conclusion

I will be doing my long paper on the animated series Miraculous (2015). At first I disliked this show because I thought it was for kids only but after watching some episodes I started to enjoy it and relate in certain ways with some characters. Now I really like this show, and what I will be discussing about it is:

• Main and some secondary characters, what people and the author think about them.

• Released dates, profuction time, production crew and studio, author. • Fans theories and what the author/director think about them.

• Disscussion of how some people think this series is for kids but others believe it can related to adults.

• The increse on adult viewers and the author/director reaction to it.

“Everything, Everything” is a 2017 American romantic drama film directed by Stella Meghie and written by J. Mills Goodloe, based on the 2015 novel of the same name by Nicola Yoon. The film was produced by Elysa Dutton and Leslie Morgenstein, and it stars Amandla Stenberg and Nick Robinson. It follows a young woman named Maddy Whittier, who has a serious medical condition that prevents her from leaving her home, and her neighbor Olly Bright, who wants to help her experience life, and they fall in love.

Outline:

–Title, release year, studio, etc

– Dimensions

– Story synopsis 

– Animation style/what does it look/sound like?

– Music

Contextualize:

– The story’s beginning

– Production duration

– Animation technique, significant technical and stylistic advances

— Who are the characters in the film, and what role do they play in the plot?

— Critics

Analyze:

— What happens in this movie?

— How did everything start?

— Which is the main point of this movie?

— How does the main character feel about it?

— What can we learn from this movie?

For the long paper, I am going to analyze the film “ Day and Night”. The firm was produced in 2010 by Teddy Newton and Pixar company. The film simply uses only two characters to bring out issues that affect society in an interesting way. This film is mainly a black background picture and then uses CGI technology on the characters to synthesize the scenery relative to the timeline, so as to form a sharp contrast to attract the audience’s attention. The film is only 6 minutes long and it is not a commercial film.

I will analyze the following questions:
What does the main audience of this film probably understand?
How does this film relate to what we have learned this semester?
Did the production of this film refer to other films?
What techniques are used in this film? In terms of sound effects, will there be any special effects?
Why would the filmmakers want to make this movie, and what’s the point?
How do I feel about this movie?

My choice for animated film would be Paranorman which released in 2012. I chose this film because it’s a stop motion animation movie and it’s also one of the biggest production to be made in stop motion animation. So I would like to explore that even more and the studio behind it called LAIKA Studios.

Outline:

– Title, year of release, studio, director

– Length

– Summary of story (main characters and plot points). 

– Style of animation/what does it look/sound like?

– Tone

Contextualize the film:

– Story’s origin 

– Length of production 

– Animation technique, important technical and stylistic developments

– Use of music/songs

– Different aesthetic approach for characters 

– Critical reception 

Analyze the film:

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

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

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

-How does it depart from its influences? 

-What is the filmmaker trying to express/convey? Is it innovative (technically, aesthetically, narratively)? 

-Do you think the filmmaker could have made different choices that would have led to a stronger piece?

• 2018 Dragon Ball Super: Broly, directed by Tatsuya Nagamine and released by Toei Animation, is the animated feature that I want to focus on for my long paper. Dragon Ball had always been an integral part of my childhood, and it’s largely responsible for my love of animation, so when I heard they were developing a new film that was canonical to the main tale, I was ecstatic. Dragon Ball’s revitalization in the mid-2010s was something I was always hesitant of at first, mainly because of my love for the original two series, Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball z, but when I heard that this movie was introducing OG Dragon Ball villain Broly and that they were reevaluating his character to be more sympathetic and endearing as a victim of wrongful influence, it piqued my interest. It revealed a deeper and more relatable aspect of Dragon Ball than I had ever seen before, and it really spoke to me as a person. There were times in my youth when I did bad things and fought with others, whether it was family or loved ones, because of the crowd I surrounded myself with, but this film really showed me that compassion, humility, and surrounding yourself with the right people will invigorate your humanity, and I’d like to touch on this aspect of the film through its amazing soundtrack, interesting production, beautiful animation, and enriching story that made this experience all the better.

Contextualize:

• Who created and distributed the animated film, Dragon Ball Super Broly?
• What were the different types of animation techniques utilized in the film?
• What did the film’s production look like?
• Who are the characters in the film and how are they integral to the plot?
• How many animators were involved in the animating process?
• How was the soundtrack utilized to enhance the film?
• What animation principles and techniques did the animators use?
• What inspiration did the creator get when thinking of this story?
• Who was the art director and how did his creative decisions influence the style of the film?
• How does the style of the film help build the story?

Analyze:

• What message do you believe the movie try’s to convey?
• What message did you get from this movie experience?
• What scene in the film really resonated with you as an audience member?
• If there was one thing you didn’t like about the film, what would it be?
• Who was your favorite character in the movie? Why?
• What part of the story told by the movie was the most powerful? Why?
• How is this film’s animation visually different from its predecessors?
• What artistic and creative techniques does the filmmaker use to appeal to the audience’s view of the film?
• What do you believe the film’s overall intentions were?
•  In what ways are the characteristics of the protagonist like your own?

For my long paper I want to discuss the Netflix reboot of Voltron: Legendary Defenders, which premiered in 2016 and ended in 2018. I watched the show during its short lived heyday at the recommendation of a friend and was bored at first but eventually got sucked in due to its likable characters. Mostly I wanted to talk about this show due to how it quickly went from being well liked to a disaster within just two years. While the animation itself was fine, the issues in this show lied within the creative team at Dreamworks. There is a lot to talk about with the lead executive producers, Joaquim Dos Santos and Lauren Montgomery, who had previously worked on The Legend of Korra, who are often seen as the shows downfall for lack of planning the show out. I’d also talk about how this is a show that was probably brought back for the purpose of selling toys and banking on the nostalgia older viewers might have for the past series in 1984. Voltron absolutely has inspiration from Toei studios and other Japanese animations, also Transformers. It’s definitely interesting how the intent for this series was supposed to be for younger kids but it generally garnered an audience of teenagers and young adults, which is probably the reason why it was picked apart so much. Frankly, I do not think this show is that innovative and will probably just be remembered for the wrong reasons, but I think it was still a really interesting experience to have been a part of at the time, so I am quite excited to dissect it as I do believe there are many simple ways to make the show better (for example, not killing your only lead who is a woman of color…)

             DISNEY MOVIE ENCANTO 

The Animated Film that I choose was the Disney movie Encanto . The reason why I chose this film is because it really resonates with me because not only does the film based on hispanic heritage which I know because I my myself are hispanic but also because the overall backstory behind the film resonates with me because I in a way can relate to it .

CONTENT

Select a recent animated full feature film, short or TV series (created in the past 10 years). This does not have to be a piece we discussed in class. I would recommend picking a piece you’ve already seen (preferably several times) and feel strongly about (positively or negatively). 

Describe the film: What is the story ? 

 The story behind the movie Encanto is based on Colombian History and all the struggles that were shared by a generation of Columbians caught up in the endless Civil war. 

 Who are the characters?

 Mirabel Madrigal , Isabela Madrigal , Bruno Madrigal , Luisa Madrigal , Dolores Madrigal , Camilo Madrigal , Pepa Madrigal , Marano Guzman , Agustin Madrigal ,Julieta Madrigal , Antonio Madrigal , Abuela Alma Madrigal , Felix Madrigal , Pico 

 What does it look/sound like?

 Very festive and suspenseful music at times and brought together in such an interesting way.  

 What is the tone of the piece (funny, sad, serious etc.)… 

A mixture of funny serious and ect 

Contextualize the film: Who created it?

 Clark Spenser & Yvette Merino 

 When and where was it produced? 

 November 24 2021 and it was produced in rural Colombia 

 How many people worked on it? 

 800 people 108 who were animators

 What animation technique was used to bring it to life?

 Computer animated as well as eye bulge support 

 How was it presented to the public? 

 Through social media such a Tick Tok where songs that would play in the movie 

 Was it a commercial success?… 

Analyze the film and highlight its relationship to the works/concepts we covered this semester. 

 This is where I want to hear YOUR thoughts on the piece. 

Your paper shouldn’t just be an accurate description of the film and its historical context but should express your reaction to it and how YOU feel it relates to the history of animation: How is it visually distinct/similar to what came before it?

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

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

How does it depart from its influences? What is the filmmaker trying to express/convey?

 Is it innovative (technically, aesthetically, narratively)? Yes 

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

 Do you think the filmmaker could have made different choices that would have led to a stronger piece?… no I feel the film came out really good 

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

PRESENTATION

Organize your paper. Clearly state the focus of your paper (along with the name of the film and director) as a thesis in the opening paragraph.  Once your topic is clearly established, the following paragraphs should each start with a topic sentence to help you develop the thesis and support a major point of your analysis. In each paragraph, provide specific references (examples) within the film that support your ideas and thesis. The final paragraph (conclusion) should tie together the threads and leave the reader with a final thought or question that has emerged from your study.

The animated film that I chose to do my long paper on is Disney’s Turning Red which was released on February 21, 2022. What really draws me to this film is how different it is from previous movies by Disney. I find it interesting how Disney didn’t hesitate to touch on “taboo” topics that teenage girls encounter and how it’s the second film to talk about generational trauma, the first movie being Encanto (2021) What I would like to research for this essay is:

• Background on who? When? Where? Why? What?
• Summary of the film, what is this movie about?
• The music and creation of a new boy group for this film’s universe. How did old 2000s songs from Backstreet Boys and Kpop group, Super Junior influence the soundtrack?
• No censoring sanitary pads? How is the mention of periods in the film go against the mindset of periods being something hidden?
• This movie is similar to many coming-of-age films where a group of boys is the protagonists, why did this movie face so much backlash even before being released?
• Turning Red is the second Disney movie that touches on the subject of generational trauma and family issues, why is it important that Disney touches on this subject?

• 

I will be doing my long paper on Steven Universe the movie! which came out in September 2nd, 2019! What’s draws me to this film is the 1) the storyline itself dealing with love, pain, trauma, realization, and change. 2) The characters that are introduced and reintroduced again in this movie and their dynamic/backstory is something that truly fascinates me! I love SU so much!

• Background on when? where? who? what? and why? Steven Universe the movie was created?
• The animation technique used to bring it to life?
• The sound/music process for the film?
• Any challenges they might have made while facing this?
• What was the inspiration for the movie to be made?
• Why steven universe means so much to me?

The animated series I will be doing my long paper on is Hellsing Ultimate. What draws me to this show are the character designs as well as how the story was able to display the dark fantasy genre greatly through its animation style. I’m fascinated on how the themes of war and humanity is depicted throughout the series and of how the ambiance reflects those themes. I will write and research about

• The background. Who? What? Where? When? Why?
• The process of production…the amount of time it took, challenges, type of animation, etc.
• The voice acting and sound design
• Analysis of the series such as the themes and why they matter to the story
• The difference between this series and its first produced counterpart (Hellsing 2001)
• The references the series have made and the impact it has made
• How this animated series inspired me

The animated series that I would like to cover is a famous cartoon network series called “Gumball”. The reason is that Gumball brought animation to a different level throughout the series. Their animation would change from 2D animations to 3D animations then stop motion animations and more. It took a lot of great animators to make Gumball and make this series very iconic to Cartoon Network. Here is where I would research:

• The important people who worked on it 
• Animation technique, important technical and stylistic developments 
• What studio made Gumball? Where was it made?
• Ben Bocquelet’s role in the animation of Gumball
• All characters in Gumball and what makes them unique
• How is it visually distinct/similar to what came before it? 
• What are its influences outside of animation?
• How did it influence what came after it – technically and/or aesthetically? 
• How is the series very entertaining for children?  

The TV series I will be focusing on is One Piece. I’m drawn to this show because of the different arc/chapters it has, along with it being very out of this world like and the different characters that are in it. These are the things I will be researching about the TV series

• when it was written, released, director/studio.
• main characters, summary of tv show.
• type of animation
• voice acting
• length of production.
• music genre used

My focus will be on a Tv Series called Rick & Morty aired in 2013. 

I’m drawn to this show because it’s about adventures between a careless scientist grandfather & his grandson Morty who isn’t the smartest. It’s a cool show overall and I would love to explore more about the film in terms of technique & aesthetic. 

Outline:

– Title, year of release, studio, director

– Length

– Summary of story (main characters and plot points). 

– Style of animation/what does it look/sound like?

– Tone

Contextualize the film:

– Story’s origin 

– Length of production 

– Animation technique, important technical and stylistic developments

– Use of music/songs

– Different aesthetic approach for characters 

– Critical reception 

Analyze the film:

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

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

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

-How does it depart from its influences? 

-What is the filmmaker trying to express/convey? Is it innovative (technically, aesthetically, narratively)? 

-Do you think the filmmaker could have made different choices that would have led to a stronger piece?…

https://screenrant.com/rick-morty-origins-backstory-full-reveals-canon-explained/amp/

www.cartoonbrew.com 

Video Essay: Why The Animation On ‘Rick And Morty’ Needs To Change

I would like to write my paper on the Naruto (2002) anime series. This is the first anime series I watched growing up and what really got me into anime. I would like to write about the shows popularity; it is regarded as 1 of the big three in anime. I’d like to discuss the debate over filler episodes which do not bother Japanese audiences and is mostly disliked by Western audiences. Finally, I would like to compare watching Naruto in dub and sub.