Animation As a Form of Media
Animation can be used to share with, educate, advertise and express emotions just like live action can utilizing the same techniques; such as the usage of colour, film language and sound. The NSPCC advert by Russell Brooke on television is a good exemplory instance of how animation could be more efficient than live action. There is no limit to just how much a situation or an action could be exaggerated but nonetheless remain to be convincing. In the advert if a real child was being thrown around it would be extremely controversial and although it is obviously what is going on behind closed doors it would be an excessive amount of for a few people to watch. The animated character is established in a way that portrays the child in a way that'll get the message across. This example shows how valuable a tool animation really is, that it's not really a media form to entertain young children. It can also be an excellent vehicle showing that cartoon violence can be used to an optimistic end.
On another hand cartoon violence can be quite aggressive and graphic just like the'Grand Theft Auto'video gaming series and some Manga features involve lots of violence and gore but created in a quite realistic way, not suited to a young audience where as cartoons adapted from Marvel comics such as'Spiderman'and the'X-Men'are primarily orientated around fighting but done in a less bloody way. The fight sequences involve a couple of kicks and punches and a superhuman power can be used which doesn't normally inflict much gory, physical damage on the opponent, instead the loser is left with a scratch or two on the face with a trickle of blood oozing from their mouth. The fights, realistic as they might be, aren't overly graphic, otherwise they would need to be shown following the watershed, but they're descriptive enough to state what is going on within the story. Most significant of is the truth that good always triumphs over evil in these cartoons. This doesn't justify the fighting but neither does it encourage it. Fisticuffs in a live action feature is definitely more violent than fighting in cartoons because it involves real people who are able to get hurt whereas cartoon characters feel nothing, making the fighting seem less realistic than the usual live action fight sequence.
The belief that animation is really a media form directed mainly at children is not necessarily true, however in some situations this can be used to the benefit of the producers. An example of here is the recent'DairyLea'commercials, created in a 3D Stop Motion technique it shows some talking cows encouraging children to consume their product, not only by itself, but with mashed potato. The advert shows that'DairyLea'could be blended with other foods and the format is more memorable to children (the talking cows), therefore they're more prone to ask their parents to get them some. Another good exemplory instance of animation aimed at children is the'Green Cross Code'(stop, look and listen). This informative commercial shows hedgehogs crossing a road within an animated and musical way, encouraging children to accomplish while they do and they will be safe. This format was chosen so children will remember how to safely cross the road as told by singing hedgehogs-which wouldn't have been possible in true to life through a live action format. The advert offers a fascinating, memorable alternative to mundane, forgettable, live action instructions. african american Links to an external site.
Since animation is made popular by children, (for example, the phenomenon of the'Pokemon'series) you will find numerous ways producers can capitalise on the launch and success of a series. The producers see many means of making more money from an effective cartoon since they understand that children will do anything to get their practical elements of merchandise, including the'Pokemon'battle cards. Merchandise does not only stop at playing cards though; there is stationary, cutlery, bags, toys, clothing, books, posters and video games. It's this side of animation that results in adults distancing themselves from the genre because of the proven fact that the cartoon series is blatantly aimed at children and so that is enough to put them off watching. Formerly the animation format adopted a biased approach aimed solely at a younger audience. In the first days animation it had been fascinating concept, a drawing which was moving. Since it had been a new concept folks of all ages took an interest.