Animation in Context

Book excerpt: "Animation in Context" is an illustrated introduction to contextual research and analysis. Designed to make academic language more accessible, it empowers animators with the confidence and enthusiasm to engage with theory as a fun, integral, and applied part of the creative process. Mark Collington focuses on a core selection of theoretical approaches that shape animation narrative and visual storytelling, supported by a broader set of shared theoretical principles from the worlds of art, design, film and media studies. This discourse is underpinned by cross-disciplinary thinking on a range of topics including genre, humor, montage and propaganda. These are applied to the analysis of a range of animated films and projects from Disney and Anime, to independent artist-filmmakers such as Wendy Tilby, Amanda Forbis and Jerzy Kucia. These ideas are also applied to other uses of animation such as advertising, gaming and animated documentary. Interviews with contemporary industry professionals, academics and student case studies, as well as a range of practical research exercises, combine to encourage a more versatile approach to animation practice."