Undergraduate /
SAIC statement of purpose (animated films). Am on the right track? [15]
Thanks you so much for your suggestions! I can't believe I let a "you" slip in there. How embarrassing. I've added in some of the things that you suggested. I know it's not all the way there yet, but please let me know if it's closer...
Animated films have enthralled me for as long as I can remember. To create thinking, feeling characters, as well as entire living, breathing worlds for them to inhabit are skills that I have constantly aspired towards. In fact, I studied a web-based animation program over the summer several years ago. Since then, I always find ways to complete school projects by creating short animated films. Boring essay projects about the different types of energy are transformed into sing-along cartoons that inspire the entire class to learn together. The juvenile appeal of cartoons helps my fellow classmates enjoy learning about even the most mundane subjects through lessons that are both fun and coherent.
For these reasons my interests lie primarily in character animation, as it is fundamentally the most important aspect of any film. Even the most entertaining story in the world will lose its magic, and ultimately fail, if the audience does not feel a strong connection to the characters. Yet as technology progresses, the creation of animated films has unfortunately become more and more reliant on computers. Hand-drawn work has been abandoned in favor of characters that are created entirely inside of a computer, and much of the human touch has been lost. Audiences are now expected to relate with images that do not physically exist. For this reason the ability to breathe life into computer generated characters is more important than ever, and can only be achieved through the careful study of age-old animation fundamentals and techniques.
As I have submerged myself in the visual culture, my own preferences and tendencies have been shaped and molded by multiple masters of the art. John Kricfalusi, the creator of
Ren and Stimpy, is the author of an online guide to animation, which he frequently updates. This has become not only a guide, but a means to discover the styles and techniques of other animation experts. Kricfalusi offers some great insight and uses cartoons from the golden era to emphasize key elements. Cartoons such as
Looney Tunes and
Popeye create lovable characters that audiences find believable. This is done by infusing the characters with real human emotions with which we are able to identify and connect. Warner Bros. did not only have an excellent command of animation fundamentals; they were capable of presenting characters that were unashamedly human. Characters like Foghorn Leghorn and Yosemite Sam were so much fun to watch because they reminded us of people that we really knew. Older cartoons such as these are among my personal favorites because they are rich in entertainment as well as fundamental techniques.
It is my goal to instill in todays computer generated films the same magic and charm that is so palpable in many older, hand-drawn cartoons. Doing this requires a solid foundation in animation fundamentals and the ability to tell an engaging story. And while these skills are beyond my reach at the moment, I feel that SAIC will provide me with the resources needed to hone my craft and become more competent in my own artistry.
