Day 12 - The Awe of Uncharted 2

Since we're discussing animation in video games this week, I thought back to what video games I'm familiar with and their respective styles created by different eras of technology. My favorite video games of all time are Super Mario Bros. for the original Nintendo, Mario Kart for N64, and Gauntlet for N64. I love the rough pixelation of these video games in comparison to the more realistic animation of recent games such as the Madden series and the Call of Duty series. I don't play on any gaming system newer than N64, but I still appreciate the art of these newer video games, one in particular.

The captivating Uncharted 2 is an award-winning video game with groundbreaking graphics. A friend of mine bought this Indiana Jones-like adventure game last fall and played it for days straight. The game is more like an interactive film than a video game because of the long cut scenes between the many levels. The lengthy scenes aren't anywhere close to being annoying, in fact they're quite intriguing. Many of my friends would walk into the living room and immediately be drawn into the action. We spent hours sitting around watching our friend play as the main character, Nathan Drake.

Uncharted 2 has won around ten awards including Best Graphics, Best Action/Adventure Game, and Best Graphic Technology. The graphics are realistic with intricate details and beautifully created architecture and landscapes. A level near the end of the game resembles the beauty of Avatar's Pandora. The forest Drake finds himself in while fighting the main bad guy has the same beautiful fluorescent glow of the Na'vis forest at night time, though it glows for different reasons. This is definitely a game I would recommend to Playstation 3 owners; just make sure you have enough time to play it because you will be engulfed!

Day 11 - How to Train Your Dragon

Last night, I went to see the new Dreamworks film How to Train Your Dragon with my boyfriend. I had heard rave reviews about the film, but I didn't want to get my hopes up. 

With each passing minute however, I found myself falling in love with Hiccup, Toothless, and every other character in How to Train Your Dragon. 

The majestic dragon named Toothless was shown in the beginning of the film as the most fearsome monster in the land of the Vikings because no one had ever met it and survived. However, once Hiccup discovered Toothless and befriended him, it was not hard to smile at the beautiful story of a "wanna-be-dragon-killer" changing his ways to befriend his enemy. 

Dreamworks and Pixar are two of the most well-known digital animation studios. In both Dreamworks' How to Train Your Dragon  and Pixar's Monsters Inc. textures play a beautiful role in the awe-inspiring realism of the characters. The textures created by the animators for both films were so intricate and detailed that it made you feel as though you were watching a live-action film. The way you can see every single hair rustle on Sully's body as well as every freckle, hair and fiber on the Vikings' clothes and skin is very impressive.  

Day 10 - The Wrong Trousers

I must admit, I'm not a fan of the Wallace and Gromit series. When I saw that we were going to be watching one of their adventures I wasn't thrilled, but I decided to remain open-minded. Despite my dislike of the series, I appreciate Nick Park's imagination and skill. Since I focused more on his skill rather than on my annoyance with the characters, I found myself enjoying The Wrong Trousers.

The Wrong Trousers was a surprisingly funny episode with an interesting plot idea. I wasn't expecting the penguin to be an evil mastermind when he first made his appearance, yet I found this twist to be refreshing since I view penguins as cute and cuddly creatures. I liked the remote control trousers as well; the sound effects that accompanied the trousers were clever and distinctive, especially when the trousers were used to walk up walls.

Though I doubt I will ever come to like Wallace and Gromit, I still admire Nick Park and will continue to watch some of his other claymations; I particularly love Adam. After we were introduced to it in class, I went home and watched it over and over. I found myself smiling and laughing each time. I look forward to seeing what else Nick Park comes out with in the future.

Day 9 - Coraline

Tim Burton and Henry Selick are two of my favorite stop-motion animators because of their dark and twisted styles. They both have amazing imaginations, as well as talent, that is clearly demonstrated in their exquisitely detailed characters, sets, and stories. I adore Henry Selick's Coraline (2009) because of these exact qualities.

Maureen Furniss's Art in Motion states that sets for stop-motion can be designed in different ways and within a vast range of realism or stylization. In this film, the sets and every object shown are handcrafted by the animators; this creates a miniaturized 'film world' within a physical and real space. Hundreds of people worked on this film to give indescribable details to each and every tree, rock, and kitchenware built in miniature form.

According to IMDb.com, Coraline's facial expressions were created using a new technology where a computer could be used to mold an expression that could then be hand-painted by the crew. This technology allowed for facial transitions that are realistic and smooth. Because this is one of the longest stop-motion films to date and it was made to be viewed in 3-D, Coraline took over three years to make. Audiences don't usually realize the amount of hard work and effort that goes into a production like this, but the animators' hard work paid off with a beautiful end product that millions will love for years to come.

Day 8 - The Birth of Astroboy

Although I have heard of Astro Boy in the past, I had never watched an episode until class on Monday. I didn't think I'd like it, but I found myself intrigued by the end of the episode. Astro Boy's dark content and use of music with movement is a unique style in a world of sugar-coated orthodox animation.

I love the darkness in The Birth of Astro Boy; the death of a child is an emotional and heartbreaking time clearly demonstrated through the crazed scientist that Tobio's father becomes. I like that Astro Boy's creator, Osamu Tezuka, tried to create realistic moments in an animated and futuristic world. Most orthodox animations follow the conventions of portraying a semi-realistic world, but when it comes to the unpredictable life moments we all experience, they are sugar-coated; Tezuka breaks this typical convention with the death of Tobio.

My favorite scene from the original episode is the mad scientist scene where Astro Boy is brought to life. The use of Beethoven's popular Symphony No. 5 in this scene is reminiscent of old horror films and adds a sense of urgency and anxiety to the room. The animation is drawn to reflect the song; the professor's body moves in time to the song and the buttons on his electronic panel light up according to the notes and pitches of Symphony No. 5.

My Stop-Motion Animation

Day 7 - Up

Though I've seen almost all of the Disney-Pixar collaborations, not one has grabbed my attention like Up (2009) has. This family-oriented film is one of only two animated films ever nominated for a best picture Oscar; this achievement was only possible with this year's addition of five slots. Edward Asner's weathered voice was the only logical choice for the film and the grumpy yet lovable main character of Carl.

Up may follow many traditional conventions of orthodox animation, but its plot is unique to itself. It follows an unlikely main character past his prime on an extraordinary adventure of a lifetime. The beginning of the film starts like others with a young boy, Carl, imagining a life of adventure at Paradise Falls in South America. Yet within the next several minutes, you're whiplashed through his life stopping in his old age at a point after his wife has passed. Contractors are threatening to take his property, so after a lifetime of working in the balloon business, he takes the initiative to transform his home into a flying house and finally makes his way to Paradise Falls. However, an unlikely companion has made his way onto Carl's flying house, thus altering his straightforward plans.

The fact that Up's main character is an elderly man brings warmth and captivation to the film; it's not often that an elderly is portrayed in such a spotlight. In most modern blockbusters, the elderly are most often portrayed as cynical, obnoxious, or weak. Even as an animation and as a character with some extremely unrealistic feats, Carl is a breath of fresh air. The film demonstrates that life passes quickly, but you're never too old to do what you've always dreamed of accomplishing.