Mella's Observaions

My Observations

While doing research for this blog, I enjoyed poking around many animation sites.  It was pretty time consuming and challenging trying to find animation I was interested in. I am not really interested in the majority of flash animation projects that seem to be popular now, blowing things up, killing, off characters, dark satire, or cartoons that appeal to the lowest common denominator. 

I enjoy subjects that are deep, thoughtful, humorous, mind expanding, inspirational, tender, emotional, things that make you pause and reflect on the human condition.  I like to explore the meaning of life, expansiveness, and elevated consciousness, while laughing at the observations.

My first thought was to Google “Poetry set to Animation”.  Most of the animation subjects that came up were dark and depressing. 

http://laughingsquid.com/to-this-day-animation-set-to-spoken-word-poem-about-bullying-by-shane-koyczan/

I remembered a poem/animation I saw almost a year ago that moved me in a profound way, "To This Day".  “It stuck with me.”  I thought at the time, the animation was powerful.  The message was strong.  The pace, tempo, and rhythm, of the audio combined with the animation visuals provoked high emotion. The narrator of the poem fluctuated between being contemplative and innocent at times to loud, angry and defiant at times.  The style of the illustration timing, combined with the colors, contributed to the tension of the content.

I was struck buy sadness and empathy for the subject.  That poem stuck in my consciousness for months.  I’ve never experienced what the author went through yet I completely understood their feelings and had compassion for their perception of their reality.

“Bullying” by Billy Collins

Karate Chops-Pork Chops

I found a nice site called  “Short of the Week”: http://www.shortoftheweek.com

This website had a number of different styles of animation.  The animation shorts intrigued me.  The following animation is simple.  It reflects the perils of human greed.  Jossie Malis uses powerful ‘simple’ graphic animation style, along with interesting uncomplicated sound track to tell the story of human evolution and its effects on religion and industry.  I found it humorous and poignant.

http://www.shortoftheweek.com/2007/03/31/bendito-machine-jossie-malis/

The following animated movie just cracked me up.  It touched on subjects that are close to my heart, and was presented I an unapologetic, mater of fact sarcastic tone.  

 Tim Minchin’s STORM: the Animated Movie.  Tim Minchin’s poem is a reflection, of an evening dinner conversation about spirituality and the age-old battle between spirituality and science.

Tim Minchin, is popular in Australia as a comedian/musician/actor, and here he writes and recites a humorous poem in the beat-style, recounting a dinner party in which he cannot refrain from verbally attacking a hippy-dippy guest for her mysticism, in favor of his rationalist, scientific worldview.

https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/HhGuXCuDb1U?autoplay=1

In conclusion, I am beginning to get a feel for the type of animated media I enjoy.  My intent is to deliver, thoughtful, thought provoking, inspiring, and humorous animations.

Mella



Referal sites for presentation:

To This Day, Animation Set to Spoken Word Poem About Bullying by Shane Koyczan

“To This Day” is a spoken word poem by Canadian poet and writer Shane Koyczan that explores the “profound and lasting impact that bullying can have on an individual.” Volunteer animators and motion artists got together for the To This Day project and animated Koyczan’s poem. The final piece is powerful and lovely.

http://laughingsquid.com/to-this-day-animation-set-to-spoken-word-poem-about-bullying-by-shane-koyczan/


Moving poems

http://www.motionpoems.com/?p=292


Muse - Soldier's Poem Flash Animation

http://vimeo.com/51355612


May a nelson Mandella Poem

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/12/07/video-maya-angelous-moving-tribute-poem-to-mandela/

Michael Parks, Illistrator, Sculptor.

http://www.borsini-burr.com/cm/Artists/Michael%20Parkes.html