What film inspired you to become an animator?

Animation Production Concept

Growing up reading Japanese manga and watching weekday afternoon anime, I was always amazed at the drawings that came alive on the screens. Since I used to draw figures modeled after Sailor Moon characters, I wanted to one day make them dance just like they do on the TV screens. However, when my family moved to the Dominican Republic from Taiwan, I was introduced to Looney Tunes, Tom and Jerry, and many of the Walt Disney classics while I learned the languages. Throughout the end of elementary and middle school years, I watched cartoons daily for it was the only thing I could understand from all the TV shows. I began to love animations for its comic relief in entertainment and not so much for its art. Later, as I watched 3D feature films, such as Finding Nemo, Monsters, Inc., and especially Robots, the extraordinary characters becoming more alive than ever on the screen brought back my interest in animation. Out of all the great 3D movies, For the Birds by Pixar Animation Studio made the biggest impact on me. The short and well-told narrative combined with neat graphics and animation, For the Birds became my top inspirational film.
For the Birds is an animated short by Pixar Animation Studio released in 2000. It has received numerous awards, including Oscar for “Best Short Animated Film” in 2002. The short movie was cleverly told with no dialogues, featuring a group of small birds that landed on the tall telephone wire. They began fighting because each bird was irritated by the other birds standing to its sides until one big odd-looking bird standing on one side of the telephone pole caught their attention. The big bird wanted to join them. However, seeing the odd-looking bird, the small birds began making fun of his big feathers and terrible croaking sound amongst themselves. In the midst of their jokes, the small birds looked up to find the big bird, determined to join them, parking himself on the telephone wire in the middle of the small birds. The small birds began a plan to get rid of the big bird only to get it in return at the end.
The character designs for this film are remarkable. Such simple characters yet with so many different expressions. Each has its own distinct personality when observed more carefully. The personalities also add to the comic relief at the end. The irritable little birds appear adorable and impossible to hate from the beginning while they unkindly rejected and made fun of the odd-looking bird. Even at the end, the naked helpless little birds are more lovable and laughable than ever. Anyone one could get a laugh at the fact that the “bullies” got it in the end, not to mention how funny they look without feathers. Moreover, the character designer played with the perception of size as well. The ill-tempered little birds are actually the bullies of story while the one being bullied is a bird over five times taller than all the little birds. The larger awkward looking bird possesses similar qualities as the Big Bird from Sesame Street. Although big and different from others, it appears friendly and fun. It reminds me of people who can make the best out of any situation, and a friend who is there to laugh with me even in rough times.
More than anything, the animation in the movie kept me in awe. The treatment of the feathers on each bird, the small but fast movements of the little birds, and the animated expression of their face are only a few of the details that make this film exceptional. I am really fascinated with the 3D modeling of these characters and the swift and smooth animation of the birds’ movements. The extraordinary modeling and animation evident in For the Birds sparked my interest in 3D animation.
This short narrative with various chirps and no dialogue made it very understandable for people of all ages, breaking the language barrier at the same time. During almost all the movies I watched with my family, I needed to translate for my parents in order for them to understand details of the plot that are revealed through dialogues. Usually, it would be nearly impossible to keep up with the translations and enjoy the movie at the same time. For the Birds makes great use of the power of animation, its ability to tell a story visually. When I shared this movie with my parents, I could tell they were enjoying it along with me. No translating or explaining to do afterwards, just tons of laughter at the outcome of the movie. It was great. Animation allows the present day busy parents and their slowly estranged teenagers a chance to enjoy something together. That is why I want to be an animator. Well-done animations can bring a family closer.

1st day proposal

Core 6: Prototyping

For thesis, I plan to create a short animated narrative with mix media. The movie should be from five to eight minutes. I do not have a plot yet. However, I do want a story that uncovers a message each audience can interpret differently. Therefore, I intend to try out a silent narrative with no dialogues, focusing on movements of the animation. The medium for this movie will be experimentation with compositing 3D animated objects with hand drawn 2D animation in After Effects. The goal for my thesis is to create an animation that can make people feel what I once felt watching an animated movie because that is the reason I want to be an animator.