Animation: Genre and Authorship (2002) by Paul Wells

This year I will be developing and creating an animation project as part of my degree. I have decided to start off my research by reading in to what an animation really is and finding out what different scholars have to say. This can then help to shape my ideas and themes for my own animation.

One book I have read is Animation: Genre and Authorship (2002) by Paul Wells. Paul believes that animation "is the most important creative form of the twenty-first century". Animation shifts and adapts with new technologies, its a modern form of art which places it very much in the now in my point of view. Wells recognises how integrated animation is within our lives, "animation is everywhere". He also discusses how it is usually referred to as the 'cartoon medium'. Animation takes part in almost every media form, many television shows take this form although it is primarily considered to be children's programs but this is not the case. Animation is sometimes used within a text to explain or show something which you would struggle to convey otherwise. Many films nowadays have animatic special effects in their editing. Wells mentions how an Oscar category has been created to recognise animation pieces.This book also refers to Preston Blair and how he perceives 'animation as a craft-oriented process'.

Different types of animation

• clay animation

• puppet or model animation
• the manipulation of objects and materials
• sand on glass
• cut out and silhouette animation

• computer generated animation