For this studio brief we were required to seek out an industry practitioner or practice to base a report on. This will hopefully give us insight into the industry or tips on how to approach industries for when we graduate.
Studios I tried contacting with emails:
- Studio Bones
- Studio Madhouse
-Studio Laika
-Disney Studio
Animations I have seen and enjoyed from these studios:
Failed responses from Madhouse:
Successful responses from Jon Turner, Director from Kilogramme:
Examples of animations from Kilogramme:
Report:
As shown by the only responses I got
contacting studios will be difficult since I resorted to contacting studios I
don’t know much about. The only response from a studio that I have seen various
animations from (Studio Madhouse) couldn’t take a moment to answer a few
questions in the first email I sent them. The second email I sent didn’t
provide any help or relevance to my questions, besides directing me to their
site for “updated recruitment” which I might try to explore. I might need to
consider, join and use other forms of media in order to contact studios and
practitioners which might have been my down fall as I only used emails and
twitter and had to make do with responses from a studio I don’t follow. I might
work on this over the holiday to see if I can get any responses, especially
from the studios I am more interested in. However, studios like Bones will be
difficult being a studio from another country as there was probably some
language barrier if my emails didn’t reach them. Either I have to explore other
more international studios or find a way to communicate with studios like Bones
more effectively.
With the only response I got from Jon
Turner, director at Kilogramme (a Manchester animation studio), I managed to
get some insightful feedback. Similar to what I remember from Fraser Maclean’s
experience of getting employed during his talk at LCA Jon said he looks “for a
good showreel
or portfolio”. This informs me as long as I present work an industry finds
interesting I will find a place with no problem. However, I didn’t receive as
much interesting and useful information. Either I have to specify my questions
more effectively or come up with other questions of what I want to know and
should know. This can be something I can work on over the holiday.
Jon also started informing me about the
important stages “to be a character animator”. This tells me Kilogramme focuses
on creating engaging characters, taking inspiration from the “Disney book ‘The
Illusion of Life’”. Otherwise this is already information I am learning on the
course since the start of my year and overall isn’t exactly useful for my
learning process.
I need to find and contact other
practitioners to see what they can tell me that I already don’t know, in order
to explore my options when it comes to finding a career in the creative
industries. What information and work I haven’t found out now and haven’t fully
completed I will try to work on over this holiday.
Elfen Lied is one of the most goriest old anime series there is. In particular it shows a very intense introduction to the gore of Elfen Lied in the first few minutes of the first episode.
In the first second after the intro you see this severed arm of a security officer
In the first few minutes Lucy, the mutant humanoid, is already on a killing spree after freeing herself from her bonds.
The art style isn't so good as some of the characters posses that typical over sized eyes some anime show. However, I see it as quite artistic for the main female character Lucy as she gains a split personality. She switches to and from her serious murderous personality to her more innocent personality and it represents this through her eyes.
Lucy's innocent side
Lucy's murderous side
As shown large eyes emphasise her innocent side by making her look cuter while smaller more narrowed eyes emphasise her murderous side by making her look more serious and mature.
The opening intro of the series also uses an art style resembling that of Gustav Klimt, as if to make a tribute to his art work. The opening also uses music sung in Latin called Lilium.
Elfen Lied Opening:
Comparison between Gustav Klimt's art and the art shown in the Elfen Lied opening
One of my favourite and not well known horror adaptations of a Japanese rpg horror game is Corpse Party: Tortured Souls. When I first watched it the second and third episodes did well to shock me making me cringe in horror. Doing various horrific things to people you can't possibly comprehend how they would feel is the worst a horror can do. It also surprised me when there are characters I expected not to die (e.g. the innocent little sister).
The series could do better by having no sexualised imagery as it doesn't suit the mood of the series.
Ritual used to transport the high school students in the story to their impending doom
The art style isn't all that good but ends in a very interesting way (besides the plot behind the murderous ghost of the story) and the animation is alright, especially good at the detail in the gore. However, the art style does ok to make it look abnormal and disconcerting as you are presented with very cute and colourful characters who are placed in a dark, horrific and gory world. This shows best in the opening intro which starts off with an eerie setting of said characters wondering around lost in the horrific, deadly and decrepit world. It then switches to showing the characters going about their daily happy lives before going back to the horror subjecting them to life threatening situations and for some their impending deaths. With the music it perfectly sets the mood throughout the changes from different setting in the opening. Besides how it ends it's a good intro, sounds too happy towards the end.
Corpse Party: Tortured Souls, Opening:
Int his scene one of the characters, Shinozaki, looks through the eyes of one of the children killed by Sachiko. Warning, this shows gorey violence (18+):
As part of our study task 3 we are required to develop an ability to work collaboratively and productively with others.
For this we all got together with fellow members of our course to showcase and promote a professional proposal in the form of an exhibition, publication or online presence. Through research and planning we are to explore the basics of how to identify an appropriate venue, audience and market.
For my collaborative we want to present an interactive story which incorporates all of our own character designs. "We want to produce work we want to watch".
The following are my own character designs using a previous character I used for an animation for 'Character & Narrative', G Mouse:
G Mouse Bio: G is the name G Mouse goes by which seems to have no real meaning to it. He is a mercenary for hire doing anything for money. His knowledge in hand to hand combat, impressive physical capabilities and specialty in a variety of weapons makes him a deadly ally. While he holds no morals in killing and torturing his enemies he has a soft spot for doing the right thing which can end up getting himself involved in life threatening situations. But just as much as he has little morals for the lives of his enemies he has little care for his own wellbeing. He is a very serious mean spirited man with a crude and offensive sense of humour.
'The Red Turtle' is a 2016 French Japanese animated film I viewed at the Manchester Arts Festival (MAF 2017). It's a bizarre interpretive fantasy film showing the story of a man stranded on an island. He tries to escape but is stopped over and over again by a mysterious red sea turtle.
The film starts of with him trying to survive and gradually going insane from not being able to leave the island because of the Red Turtle. In a fit of rage he attacks the Red Turtle when it emerges onto land and leaves it on its back. At this point the film starts to introduce it's bizarre fantasy side when the red turtle turns into a woman with whom he makes a family with.
The man and his family made with the turtle woman
Through it's bizarre concept it tells a story of a cycle of life in many ways besides the family itself. It does this subtly through moments such as the tsunami scene. It destroys a huge portion of the trees on the island which we see later on being replaced with new plant shoots.
With the family it shows a cycle of life similar to that of a sea turtle only with the man involved. When the child becomes old enough he leaves the island in search for a new life, similar to that of baby sea turtles once they are hatched and ready they leave the land to go out to sea. After this we follow the parents as they grow old and after the man dies of old age the woman turns back into a turtle and leaves for the sea as well. This is reminiscent of how a real female sea turtle would return to the sea after it's finished it's role in the cycle of life.
The animation was also well done, simplistic yet detailed, beautiful and an art style that looks like something out of the pages of a book.
'Phantom Boy' is a 2015 French film I viewed at the Manchester Arts Festival (MAF 2016).
It a very interesting supernatural crime film set in New York City which follows the story of a detective and a boy named Leo who has discovered his ability to leave his body to move around in spirit form. With his special ability he helps the detective hunt down the villain known as "The Broken Face".
The Broken Face making a video threat
What I liked most about the film is it's sense of humour especially with the main villain. He clearly has a serious agenda and reason behind what he is doing but their are constantly many funny distraction in the film interrupting him from explaining his backstory which leaves you wondering at the end of the film "what was his reason for being evil?" which leaves you with a humours impression of the film. The animation is well thought out and done, even the use of audio, despite using a very simplistic art style. This shows that as long as the animation is done right almost any art styles can be used to create a great animated film.
This is an American live adaptation of the anime film 'Ghost in The Shell' and shows various interpretations/references from the anime version of the film.
Anime film 'Ghost in The Shell'
Personally, as far as I can recall from the original's (anime version) story it seemed very hard to follow. It would question a lot about when does a cybernetic human stop being human without feeling it's a part of the main storyline (as the main character, Motoko, is a cyborg woman). However, I felt that the visuals of the live action are not as impressive as the drawn animated visuals of the original anime film.
The various similarities I can show:
Overall, I believe they bring different interesting interpretations to the story of 'Ghost in The Shell'.
'Your Name' is a Japanese film that came out in 2016 and is a supernatural mind blowing romance film. It demonstrates amazing visuals with great detail and is probably one of the best animated films I have seen so far.
The story follows the story of two high school students, one lives in the city (the main boy character) and one lives in the countryside (the main girl character). One day they think they are dreaming about each other's daily life when in reality they are switching bodies every time they sleep. Using this concept it creates a very mind blowing film you need to watch to see for yourself for the major plot point.
One of my favourite parts of the animation is how it creates it's own animated time lapses, perfectly capturing reality in a beautiful animated interpretation. The use of lights and clouds make it look very convincing. This goes for most of the animation as we see the characters go about their daily lives with beautiful visuals.
Gold is the recent film in the One Piece series for 2017 and a fun action packed adventure with quirky imaginative designs and concepts. It also presents a meaningful story with dark themes of oppression.
The film takes place on a island sized ship created to be the biggest and most wealthy casino ship in the world, "world's largest entertainment city". The owner, Tesoro, is extremely wealthy. The ship and buildings within it are mostly made out of gold, he can pay off the marines (the law enforcements) and even has the power to telekinetically manipulate gold. However, he has more sinister intentions then running a casino as he finds pleasure in placing other in debt due to his backstory.
Tesoro
Tesoro was a victim to the oppression of the World Nobles and it's suggested he was once a slave as he was branded with the symbol of the World Nobles. He then branded himself with a star to cover up the World Nobles' brand. Now with his wealth and new powers he now subjects those with wealth how he felt when he was helpless against the oppression of the World Nobles as if to satisfy himself. He does this by secretly placing a sort of bind on those who enter his casino which is hard to get rid of. Once he tricks you in going into debt you are trapped and subjected to serve him to pay off your debt if you want your freedom. The main characters, the Strawhat Crew, fall victim to this and have to make the "ultimate gamble".
As shown in the trailer for this film Tesoro expresses what he knows about money as well as what he may have gone through when he didn't have as much wealth as he does now:
Tesoro: "Money is power! Money can buy anything! Sooner or later those without it will have nothing! No love! No Dreams! No strength! No freedom! And once it all sinks in no HOPE".
Some of what he says seem very true and as he has clearly suffered at the hands of bad people it sets him up as a very interesting villain (who is clearly insane!). The money he has does provide him with the power to do anything he pleases as he can pay off the World Government and afford his own security already making him a dangerous individual. Money can buy him anything but it doesn't help get back what he lost because of the World Nobles, the saying of "money doesn't buy you happiness" is true but I think to an extent. True many rich people or celebs experience depression despite their wealth but there is still a majority of those who are content with their wealth (this depends on each person).
While he expresses that without money "sooner or later" you won't have "love, dreams, strength, freedom" and "hope". True to an extent, money would make life a lot easier, it's not a hundred true as is the underlying message of the One Piece story that sear determination can achieve anything as long as you try.
English Dub of the Gold Trailer:
Examples of animation, gifs and videos:
Baccarat's first appearance
Luffy, Chopper and Usopp in the Turtle Race, Hot Shell
Sabo and Lucci clash
Turtle Race, Hot Shell:
Film Introduction:
First Fight Sequence:
Final Fight at the end of the film, Luffy Gear 4 vs Tesoro:
At first glance this series wouldn't look all that serious. Besides the fun, comedy and action packed adventures the series explores very dark and serious issue. In particular how discrimination, prejudism and oppression are brought up throughout the series in various ways.
Fishmen and Humans
Arlong and his Pirate crew
One part of the series that shows discrimination and oppression is the Arlong Arc. During this part of the series we are introduced to Arlong and his crew, a group of what are called 'Fishmen' a race of humanoid creatures in One Piece. They took over a village of humans and threatened to kill if they didn't pay them money. Fishmen are superior in many ways, mainly their physical capabilities and they can breath both water and air. Arlong and his crew constantly used this to gloat about how superior Fishmen are over humans calling them weak and they should learn to respect their superiority. With help from a corrupt navy officer to turn a blind eye the residence of the village are left at the mercy of Arlong's oppression having to pay off his taxes or else they'll die.
You learn that one of the main characters (Nami) is effected by this as her adoptive mother (Bellemere) was shot and killed by Arlong himself when she was only a child. She then offered her services to Arlong in order to pay him off for the village.
Arlong shooting Bellemere
This has create prejudism towards Fishmen as they are seen as dangerous abnormal looking monsters in the eyes of humans. Though it is discovered there is a reason behind Arlong and his crew's actions as Fishmen themselves were subjected to discrimination and oppression from the beginning.
Fishmen don't have a huge population, even under water, compared to humans whom populate most of the land providing them to be more prosperous then Fishmen. This leads to humans having more power in terms of numbers and military prowess. Consequently, humans saw Fishmen as abominations and since Fishmen dream of living on the surface just as the humans do some of them end up getting kidnapped and put into slavery. This caused Fishmen like Arlong to develop prejudism against humans seeing them as lesser being undeserved of their power.
One Fishman crew in particular that Arlong was a part of was the Sun Pirates lead by Fisher Tiger, a hero amongst the Fishmen and is introduced during the Fishman Island Arc.
Fisher Tiger with fellow Fishmen Arlong and Jinbei either side of him
Fisher was a happy man who showed great enthusiasm for the surface and, just like many other Fishmen, longed to live on the surface just as the humans did. However, after a long time before returning back from his last trip he tells how he saw humans when he visited the surface and was shortly put into slavery. He was branded with the symbol of the World Nobles showing he was a slave, owned by the World Nobles. This is why they have a sun symbol on their bodies, those with the slave branding branded over the World Noble's to replace it with the Sun branding (a symbol of their dream to live under the sun).
Symbol of the World Nobles branded on Boa Hancock's back as she was once a slave during her childhood
After escaping and freeing slaves this changed who was once a happy man into a pirate out to fight for the justice of his people with a level of prejudism against humans for what they do to people like him. However, this just led to more conflict, fear and hatred between humans and fishmen, creating more prejudism and hatred.
Fisher doesn't show much hatred for humans since he is against killing humans as he strived to be better then them. He took on a human child (koala) to take her back to her home as she was also one of the slaves he rescued. Despite being a human the crew grew close to her and she learned how many nice fishmen there are and boasts how she'll tell everyone how many nice fishmen there are. However, because of Fisher's prejudism against humanity he didn't think her love for them would last forever and that "she'll grow up into a mean-spirited human like the others". So far Koala did go on to join the Revolutionary Army and learned a martial art created by the fishmen, this shows her experience with them did change her and that she probably joined the Revolutionary Army to help change the world for the better and for the rights of fishmen.
Koala and the Sun Pirates:
Unfortunately Fisher's prejudism against humans went to his grave as he was attacked by Kizaru shortly after returning Koala to her home. After being severely injured Fisher needed a transfusion but all they had was human blood (human and fishmen blood are similar). But Fisher's prejudism is so strong that he won't allow human blood to enter his body.
Fisher Tiger's response to a human blood transfusion
Whether it's his own stubborn prejudism or the fault of human's discrimination towards fishmen is no doubt they have factors into the caused of his death. Another case of this conflict causing death is when one fishman (Hody Jones) assassinated their queen in order to frame a human and cause an uproar against humans. He is even involved in punishing fellow fishmen for harbouring humans in their homes. Even the way they dress up when they did this along with flaming torches looks like a reference to the kkk.
Fishmen responding to the rumour of a fishman harbouring a human in his home
It uses blood to symbolise the hatred and conflict created by the prejudice between these two races/species. But towards the end of the Fishman Island Arc blood is also used to symbolise a connection between Fishmen and Humans, that they all share the same red blood.
Fishman Jinbei shared blood with main character Luffy:
This creates a beautiful and meaningful message towards the end of the arc and cleverly uses what is usually used to show conflict and horror for something more positive.
Chopper's Discrimination
Tony Tony Chopper
Chopper was a reindeer born with a blue nose and just like Rudolf the red nosed reindeer Chopper was also subjected to being treated differently from the other reindeers because of his blue nose. Later on Chopper encountered and eats what is called a Devil Fruit which made him part human causing him to be completely rejected from the other reindeers. He even tries to approach humans from a nearby village using his human form but is seen as a monster and is chased out by the villagers.
Chopper's background story:
Thanks a man called Dr. Hiluluk he showed Chopper the kindness he never knew and is the reason why he started studying medicine to become a doctor. When Chopper encountered the main character Luffy Luffy didn't hate or fear him because he was a monster but was more interested in him and wanted to be his friend. Even when Chopper tried explaining to Luffy that a monster doesn't belong among humans Luffy didn't care what he was talking about and doesn't take no for an answer. Chopper always wanted to be human but learned not to care whether he was a monster, if it's for his friends and especially for Luffy he doesn't care if he becomes a monster.
Chopper wants to become a monster helpful to Luffy:
This creates the message that you shouldn't care about what people think about you and that there are always people who will accept you for what you are.
Celestial Dragons
The World Nobles
Celestial Dragons are also known as the World Nobles, descendants of the founders of the World Government. Because of this they have high authority, do as they please without consequences and if anyone opposes or harms them will be in big trouble. They even see themselves as higher beings and anyone who isn't of their blood are lesser beings. This has caused them to subject people to their oppression and ruin their lives causing hatred towards them especially those I have mentioned whom were subjected to their slavery.
However, the series also demonstrates how the hatred towards these Nobles has also caused prejudism towards them. It's discovered that the Warlord Donquixote Doflamingo used to be a World Noble and his father and mother wanted to become one with the "lesser" people as they are all human. But as a result of the history of World Nobles' oppression on common people when the villagers of the village Doflamingo's family tried to settle down in found out they were no longer Nobles they were targeted for revenge. Their hatred for the World Nobles were so much that they wouldn't listen or believe they were trying to be good, consumed by the prejudice belief that World Nobles are all horrible people.
Doflamingo's family being attacked by the villagers
Due to this as a child Doflamingo discovered his inner power, shot his own father and became the evil tyrant known as the "Heavenly Yaksha". Discovered during the Dressrosa Arc he took over a country by force using a Devil Fruit ability he gained to frame the King (Riku) and the army of said country for mass genocide of its citizens. He then presented himself as the hero who stopped the mad king only to subject his own oppression on the people. This also caused prejudism towards Rebecca, a descendant of the king, only hated for what the king did. Thanks to the power of one of his subordinates people's existence are wiped from the memories of others. With no power over this they are helpless as their loved ones carry on with their lives with no memory of them while they are subjected to slavery. Even after this curse is broken the damage in many cases is already done e.g. Kyros' wife died with no memory of him.
Doflamingo controlling King Riku like a puppet
This shows how, at times, people always expect the worse out of people, that it's hard to believe they have chanced their ways after what people like them have already done. Lumping them all together with the prejudice idea that they are all the same. It's possible that if Doflamingo's parents didn't decide to live as normal people that he wouldn't have turned out as evil as he is. But it can also be said he would have been a better person if those villagers didn't subject him and his family to their prejudice hatred or at the least he wouldn't have turned out to be the man he is now.
While the series doesn't have the best animation most of the time it provides meaningful stories and characters who are linked together due to issues of discrimination, prejudism and oppression.
