Re-Imagining Animation: Authorshop - Paul Wells

In this reading, Wells explores questions of authorship within animation, and how much it is valued within entertainment. There are many different methods of creating animation such as single person, back-bedroom studios and major production houses. This leads to different definitions of what authorship is; this could be an auteur, director, artist, film maker, or simply an animator.
Wells explains how only recently have mass production companies such as Disney and Warner Bros been considered relevant in terms of authorship. Instead, the independent artists were deemed more important than large scale animation directors. Wells argues that there shouldn't be such a division between different styles and all creators of animation should be valued and respected equally.

Key words:
Commerce - This refers to creative industries who create animation for a large profit.
Culture: Popular culture refers to animation such as The Simpsons, Disney or Anime. Art culture usually resists the notion of animation.

In terms of 'art', animation is usually viewed as insubstantial, lightweight and juvenile, despite its usefulness. This may be due to the fact that the majority of mass media animation is aimed at children and is largely distributed in broadcast media or gaming. However these forms of animated media can still provide intellectual value, even when aimed at children. For example, Wells highlights the game Animal Crossing which teaches children capitalist values. Furthermore many television programmes teach life lessons whilst still being entertaining.

"The persistent juvenilisation of animation to lend innocence and stealth to adult agendas demands understanding and attention" Johnny Hardstaff

Advertisements and promotions often use animation or graphic design. Graphic designers use the term in order to be separate from the stereotype of animation being like Disney etc. It is interesting that Wells highlights this style of animation because like many others, when I think of animation I automatically think of it in terms of movies and television shows rather than other informative pieces.
Wells states that animation is often underestimated without considering its freedom of expression.

Animator Don Hertzfeldt points out that most animators use the same, most up to date technology making everything look and feel the same. He suggests the use of 100 years worth of equipment. He argues that with animation you're not forced to compromise with reality, however a lot of popular animation achieves photo-realism rather than try escape it. I'm inspired by Hertzfeldt's values since, my first thought was to create an animated piece that replicates real life, but now I'd like to think outside the box and creative something more abstract. The fun with animation is being able to create anything from your imagination, there's no need for it to look like a cartoon version of film.