Project 9: Color, Ephemera, Depiction in Animation

Animation can be a great vehicle to study use of color for depiction based on general analytic principles of color. Animation generally uses broad flat areas of color, and expoits principles of the three attricutes of color that we have learned. In this project, we will examine how color phenomena is handled loosely but analytically in this art form. We will be focusing on the deft and efficient handling of ephemeral phenomena such as direct and indirect light/illumination, shadows, reflections, fire, smoke and transparencies (all that are not solid objects). The Tex Avery example above (wolf and burlesque dancer) is a great example of wonderfully simple depiction of light and shadow in a spot lit stage scene. Glowing light and dramatic shadows are the hallmark of several earlier Disney films such as Fantasia, Lady and the Tramp and Peter Pan (all pictured here). Dumbo, a mostly day-lit story, has less dramatic shadowing, but still quite affective.
Download separate cells or still images, print them, and do detailed studies of the mechanics of how the depiction of these phenomena are handled. These will be on 9" x 12" Bristol if painting or 8 1/2" x 11 if digital print. Gouache painters will do three studies and make precise replicas. Those working digitally will make six studies, and will alter the design by morphing scenes with different lighting together. Character(s) from one scene with one sort of light will be placed in another scene and the shadows, etc must be altered to make a cohesive image. You may also invent scenes, but they must be based on a cartoon cell, or a photograph (do 6). for students inventing scenes from scratch (not using found images), you do not have to be concerned with the morphing of two images or sets of imagery.
We will screen parts of a couple of animations to analyze the depiction of these phenomena.
Project due Tuesday, November 3.