Animation doesn’t have to confine itself a singular art style or method. Whether it be surrealism psychedelic art movements, or traditional to modern 3D animation methods; this list features 5 movies that make the most out of the freedom that this medium of art provides, demonstrating the range of potential animation has.
Read on to discover what these are!
1. Yellow Submarine
Release date: 17th January 1969
Genre: Jukebox Musical
Animation method: Traditional animation (Limited animation)
Country of Origin: The UK
Director: George Dunning
Rated: PG-13
This animated jukebox musical of the same name as The Beatles album - Yellow Submarine -undertakes the surrealist style of psychedelic animation, zeitgeist to its time in the 60s. It follows The Beatles, and their departure in a Yellow Submarine to save an underwater city. The movie took full advantage of the benefits that comes with animation; playing with colour, shape and texture to produce a mind-bending piece that was only bound to do well with the pop culture of its time.
Being a jukebox musical, it alluded to and played songs like “Hey bulldog,” and “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,” which appropriately are of the psychedelic rock genre- affirming that the style in this animated movie was as much of an intentional decision as it was an exploration of art. Despite the hallucinogenic implications of the movie itself, it was "a smash hit, delighting adolescents and esthetes alike." - according to time.com. The reuse of character frames, thoughtfully chosen, yet playful colour schemes and a unique approach to storytelling ensured there was enough entertainment to go around for the whole family.
The movie is set in the fictional city of Pepperland, where the antagonistic, music-hating group called the “Blue Meanies” cause a blockade. The Mayor’s pleads cause The Beatles to step in, to free Pepperland.
2. Isle of Dogs
Release Date: 23rd March 2018
Genre: Dystopian, Comedy-drama
Animation method: Stop-motion animation
Country of Origin: USA
Director: Wes Anderson
Rated: PG-13
Wes Anderson’s second approach to stop-motion animation was the critically acclaimed Isle of Dogs. Through exploration of Edo-period aesthetics, washed-out colours and gritty sets, the movie follows a 12-year-old Atari in a dystopic Japan. It was undoubtedly a showcase of Wes Anderson’s monomania for Asian visuals.
This animated movie was made up of puppets, hand-crafted sets and VFX. To stay true to the vision that Anderson had, artists created miniature after miniature instead of modern workarounds- there “were about 250 sets” used in the film as Tim Ledbury had stated in an interview with VFX Voice. The resulting quality stood out among the mainstream animations of its time, in which most were 3D/CGI animation.
The animation sets off with Atari’s dear dog being exiled to Trash Island, by an authoritarian mayor. Themes of corruption and isolation drive the movie and its narrative forward.
3. 9
Release Date: 3rd September 2009
Genre: Science fiction
Animation method: 3D animation (CG)
Country of Origin: USA
Director: Shane Acker
Rated: PG-13
9 is a science fiction animated movie, based on the short film of the same name. It’s CG-animated like most modern-day ones are, but still stands distinct.
Now, while the public agreed that the movie was mediocre in its writing, the film’s style was more than enough to keep audiences watching. It’s set in a steampunk, post-apocalyptic landscape where the ragdoll ‘9’ plays as the titular character of the film.
The movie is centred around idea of a man-made apocalypse, exploring themes of humanity, nature, and machines. Plot-wise, it’s linear; 9 dolls set out to save the world, and they do so by retrieving a talisman, effectively bringing life back into the planet.
4. World of Tomorrow
Release Date: 22nd January 2015
Genre: Science Fiction
Animation method: 2D animation
Country of Origin: USA
Director: Don Hertzfeldt
Rated: G
The World of Tomorrow is an avant-garde sci-fi, an animated movie that can only be accredited to Don Hertzfeldt. It’s a short film that takes place in a world of colour- and stick figures.
The dream-like backdrops are hard to summarise in a single phrase, as the hand-drawn short is bizarre and unpredictable in its art. In an interview with The Dissolve, Hertzfeldt shared that he took inspiration from “covers of old pulpy sci-fi novels”, emulating its “strong solid colour(s)” and “mysterious geometric shapes” in this work.
The simplistic nature of the stick-figured characters works to not overwhelm the audience. Their thoughts and emotions are supported through tablet-drawn pathetic fallacies within the backgrounds they settle in, as if to make up for subtleties in facial expressions they may lack.
This 2D animated movie depicts ideas of time, youth and space. These themes were reflected through Emily and the meeting of her adult clone, as they travel to distant futures and moons.
5. Angel’s Egg
Release Date: 22nd December 1985
Genre: Fantasy, Science Fiction
Animation method: Cel animation
Country of Origin: Japan
Director: Mamoru Oshii, Yoshitaka Amano
Rated: Not Rated
This 80’s anime is a largely cryptic, surrealist piece that - despite its initial box office failure - has been garnering attention since its release.
The ambiguous tale follows a girl, her egg, and a soldier in a post-apocalyptic world. It has little to no dialogue, forcing audiences to focus solely on its art direction and music. It’s a celluloid animation that borrows elements from Catholicism and science fiction fantasies. The inspired world uses contrast with the unnamed pallid girl and dark settings around her to recreate what can be amounted to 71 minutes of an aghast, fever dream.
This article might not fully deliver the artistry of each piece, so to fully understand the intent behind these animated movies- go watch them for yourself! Try choosing what piques your curiosity the most and experience the different angles animation has to offer.
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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