Art has always been an imposing presence in our daily lives. From Baroque architecture to French Impressionist music, art movements influence the defining culture around us. Different movements have been adapted to contexts outside the one it originates from. Broadly, this may include geographical or cultural circumstances, or mediums—like animation. Together, let's explore the way historic art movements have been adopted to modern animated pieces.
Ukiyo-e (1603-1867)
Spanning over two centuries, this period in Japanese art history is the longest running movement in the list. The main influence of the era’s art comes from the economic climate of its time. The working class of Edo¹ experienced an influx of wealth- and the masses spent it on self-indulgent pursuits of pleasure and luxury. With their newfound temerity, men visited kabuki theatres and red-light districts, and pampered themselves in the company of geishas. Through woodblock printing and Nikuhitsu techniques, these hubs of entertainment were depicted alongside these common motifs: disproportionally large heads, beautiful women, flora and fauna, to name a few.
¹Edo: Now commonly known as Tokyo.
The Present
‘Miss Hokusai’ is a Japanese historical animation, that showcases this historically significant art movement. Released in 2015, the movie mainly follows the daughter of Katsushika Hokusai, O-Ei. While ‘Miss Hokusai’ is largely fictional, the aforementioned characters are real people. Hokusai was an important figure in the Ukiyo-e art movement, mostly celebrated for his painting of ‘The Great Wave’. It alludes to this in an early scene, where waves crash against the family boat in a manner similar to the artwork.
The Process
Throughout the rest of the 2D animated movie, the paintings scattered around take direct inspiration from the Ukiyo-e movement. Its familiar brushstrokes and motifs were utilised in the art of both O-Ei and her father, staying faithful to the period the movie is set in. Uniquely, ‘Miss Hokusai’ is subtle in its artistic and historical inspirations. While most period-pieces wane towards extravagance and exaggeration, the creators of 'Miss Hokusai’ do not sacrifice story for visual theatrics.
Post-Impressionism (1886 – 1905)
This term was initially coined by the art critic Roger Fry, who labelled a group of four painters as Post-Impressionist artists. Art of this movement is typically characterised by the use of a real-life subject, but without the bounds of Impressionism. This meant a preference towards atypical colours, abstract motifs, and heavier symbolism. The four main artists from this artistic movement were Paul Cézanne, Paul Gauguin, Georges Seurat, and most famously, Vincent Van Gogh.
The Present
This brings us to the 2017 animated movie, ‘Loving Vincent’. It is the first of its kind, with each frame being an oil painting of its own. This movie does not focus on how he had lived, rather opting to retrace the events of his death—the matter being unofficially investigated by the son of a postman. The plot therefore contemplates the age-old mystery of the inconsistencies surrounding Van Gogh’s misfortune, entertaining the possibility that his passing was the result of murder.
The Process
The animated movie is comprised of over 65,000 frames; each emulating the brushstrokes and colour schemes of the titular Post-Impressionist painter. Instead of hiring animators to map out and paint the scenes, directors chose to employ traditional oil painters that could replicate Van Gogh’s Post-Impressionist art style closest. This decision guarantees that immersion will not be interrupted by personal aesthetics of modern animators, to truly pay homage to Vincent Van Gogh.
Surrealism (1920s-1950s)
André Breton’s Surrealist Manifesto marked the official start of the art movement. Surrealism was largely inspired by Sigmund Freud’s work. His theories about the human mind inspired Breton’s Manifesto, which urged the belief that art was best expressed through a disconnected mental state. Resultingly, surrealist art is usually practised in a state of automatism, where the artist would restrain their consciousness to allow their subconsciousness to create. Therefore, pieces in this artistic movement presents reality in a dream-like manner.
The Present
Surrealism has always had a place in animation. Animation tends to house similar characteristics as discussed, where the created world feels uncanny. However, the animation ‘Accidental Luxuriance of the Translucent Water Rebus’ fully explores surrealism. Its abstract plot follows Martin, who after a failed act against a political system flees with a conceptual artist named Sora. The 2020 animated film is a blend of rotoscoping, collage and found footage. Its development was almost entirely accredited to the sole work of the Croatian artist, Dalibor Baric.
The Process
Through utilising those mediums, Baric stays true to the qualities of surreal art; the animation is ambiguous, irrational and subverts reality. Visuals jumps from paper-like qualities of simple silhouettes, to plastering layers of images over found footage. These jumps from differing types of art is exemplary of modern-day surrealism. Its usage of colour is intentionally inconsistent as well, with scenes ranging from completely black and white to hues of mint, orange, grey and pink. Lines from characters act more like suggestions than dialogue, and the music in each scene is akin to ones from pulp noir films. This modern interpretation of surrealism may not be for everyone, but if you are a fan of the art movement, giving this experience a shot won’t hurt.
Post-Modernism (1970-1990)
Art is supposed to be provocative, and post-modernism was very much so. It challenged authoritarian views and welcomed scepticism. This movement continues to be highly influential in all forms of art. The popular dystopic settings in literature and films are inherently post-modernist criticisms. Take The Handmaid’s Tale for example- the speculative fiction is a feminist dystopia that antagonises totalitarian governing and puritanical ideologies. Essentially, art of this movement had no singular tangible form, but shared similar philosophies and beliefs that challenged the status quo through satire, parody and hyperbole.
The Present
In Wall-E, post-modernism is manifested in its storytelling and visuals. It overtly demands the audience to confront the effects of capitalism, consumerism, and disconnection. It follows the titular character, Wall-E, a lone robot that spends its days collecting waste on an abandoned Earth. His isolation soon is broken when he meets EVE, sent from a ship to search for viable life. The movie juxtaposes of the barren wastelands of Earth with the technologically advanced paradise of the spacecraft. However, it parallels in its isolation. Wall-E is physically alone, without another robotic companion, while the humans on the ship are situated together, but disconnected due to technology and complacency. Therefore, it emphasises the superficial progress in which humanity has made, in post-modernist nature.
The Process
As previously mentioned, there is no singular form post-modern art takes. Cubism can clearly be distinguished through the telling brushstrokes and subjects. This type of art differs, rejecting to be put into a specific direction, mixing mediums and artistic movements together. However, it is not common for visual elements like technological and pop culture imagery to be used. This is reflected in Wall-E. Grand indoor cities with imposing adverts, and humans who rendered themselves overly reliant on technology were depicted throughout the spacecraft, acting as a post-modernist cautionary tale on the misuse of technology.
Conclusion
Different types of art, including Animation, are the reactions towards the zeitgeist of the time. Animation is just one way we can observe shifts the in beliefs and perceptions. That being said, art styles don’t have to be limited to its time in their respective movements, evidently so. Modern artists can borrow types of art that precede them, for reasons of their own. That in itself is representative of the current climate of the art world, where there is freedom of expression and accessibility of information.
Author Bio
From Malaysia, Leia Emeera is a writer at TESSR, and a published author. She has been putting pen to paper ever since she learned how to, and has an anthology to her name, titled 'Ten'. Leia loves music, games and her beloved Labrador Retriever, George. She aims to further her studies in English Literature and Creative Writing the moment her gap year ends. 'Till then, you will find her sitting behind a desk, writing with TESSR.
Connect with her on LinkedIn: Leia Emeera
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