Embedded Files
Changing My Topic
Changing My Topic
In my Research Blog Post 1, I wrote about my process of deciding on a research topic. I had planned to focus on Hansen's Disease, commonly known as leprosy, and how the disease led to the dehumanization and animalization of those incarcerated, specifically at the Kalaupapa settlements in Molokai. I had some ideas about connecting leprosy to today's COVID-19 pandemic along with HIV/AIDS outbreaks in the past. However, upon further deliberation and exploration of alternative primary sources, I realized that my research topic was more heavily focused on the relationships between people and power, and did not exactly connect to the animal component as much as I hoped it would. While my initial topic is very relevant to the context of physical isolation and racial stigma occurring in our world right now, I feel that it is not a topic that entirely encapsulates the theme of animals, people, and power, along with my personal interest.
When looking to decide on a different research topic, I was inspired by Professor Mimura's lectures about film analysis, specifically animated films like Chicken Run (2000) and technologically innovative films like King Kong (2005) and Jurassic Park (1993). Engaging in visual analysis was surprisingly refreshing and I really enjoyed learning about how elements such as mise en scene, cinematography, editing, and sound, affect my viewing experience. With this in mind, I began thinking about various films that I have watched in the past that engage with the course's theme of animals, people, and power. I came up with a few films that I believe examine, in-depth, many of the important themes that our course has covered thus far—animal representations in varying historical contexts, human-animal power relationships, ethnic-racial stigmatization, incarceration of minority groups, and disability studies.
Disney's Zootopia (2016)
Disney's Zootopia (2016)
Zootopia is a computer-animated film featuring anthropomorphic animals. The main characters are a rabbit police officer (Judy Hopps) and a fox con artist (Nick Wilde) who work together to solve a criminal case involving the the feral predators around Zootopia.
Accessibility: This source is fairly accessible to a wide audience. It is readily available through streaming services like Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, iTunes, and Google Play, or for purchase in stores like Target, Walmart, or Best Buy in DVD format. I have a Disney+ subscription, so I will be primarily accessing this source from there.
Authorship: This film was produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney pictures. It was directed by Byron Howard and Rich Moore. Both directors have experience in directing other films such as Byron Howard with Bolt (2008) and Tangled (2010), and Rich Moore with Wreck-it-Ralph (2012).
Writing & Production: Howard initially wanted to create a film that resembled Disney's Robin Hood with its anthropomorphic roles. The idea for his concept was to create "something different from other animal anthropomorphic films, where animals either live in the natural world or in the human world." Research for the film took place over eight months at Disney's Animal Kingdom, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, and Kenya. At the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, animators were able to carefully observe animal fur under a microscope.
Audience: While sometimes classified as a children's film, Zootopia is arguably a movie for all ages. With its commentary on racial and gender inequalities along with police brutality, the film covers many contemporary issues that make it an engaging film for children and adults alike.
Circulation: Zootopia premiered at the Brussels Animation Film Festival in Belgium on February 13, 2016. It was released to the United States public in Disney Digital 3-D, RealD 3D, IMAX 3D, and 4DX formats on March 4, 2016. The film broke box records worldwide, becoming the fourth highest grossing film of 2016.
Animation Technique(s): Disney's IT engineers developed a fur-controlling software, "iGroom," to create precise, realistic, and unique styles for each animal character. For example, Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde each had around 2.5 million hairs. Other animation techniques include a Hyperion renderer and a real-time display application, which both allowed animators to more realistically depict the characters' fur.
Pixar's Finding Nemo (2003)
Pixar's Finding Nemo (2003)
Finding Nemo is a computer-animated film about a young fish (Nemo), his overprotective dad (Marlin), and his sidekick (Dory). Nemo is captured by a scuba diver and put in an aquarium, while Marlin and Dory conquer numerous obstacles in their search for Nemo.
Accessibility: This source, like Zootopia, is accessible on numerous platforms including Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, iTunes, and Google Play. It is also available for purchase in stores like Target, Walmart, and Best Buy. I am able to access and stream this film anytime with my Disney+ subscription.
Authorship: This film was produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It was directed and co-written by Andrew Stanton, who is also known for his work in the Toy Story films (1995-2019) and Monsters, Inc. (2001), and of course the sequel Finding Dory (2016).
Writing & Production: In creating the narrative of Finding Nemo, Stanton was inspired by his childhood in which he would see fish at the dentist, along with his family trip to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom where he realized he may have been an overprotective father to his son. In animating the film, artists took scuba diving lessons to extensively study the coral reef. Additionally, animators visited aquariums and took courses on biology and oceanography in order to accurately depict fish movements and expressions.
Audience: Categorized under the "Kids and Family" genre, Finding Nemo is undoubtedly a family friendly film widely enjoyed by children. However, the film also has a large audience of teens and adults who empathize with Nemo's struggles as a disabled fish in a human world and Marlin's struggles of parenting with the fear of trusting his son.
Circulation: Finding Nemo was released in theatres on May 30, 2003 and re-released in 3D on September 14, 2012. It quickly became the highest-grossing animated film at the time of its release and gained considerable recognition worldwide. It was named the 10th greatest animated film ever made by the American Film Institute and voted one of the 100 greatest motion pictures since 2000 in a poll by BBC.
Animation Techniques: With the use of six technical teams specializing in different components, Finding Nemo was able to seamlessly create the fantasy underwater world that we see on screen. For example, the Ocean Unit was in charge of scenes like the jellyfish forest where the team created a simulation that controlled the movement and speed of the jellyfish. Additionally, the film's directors of photography played with lighting to create a 3-strip Technicolor quality that enhanced the underwater effects.
So... Which Film?
So... Which Film?
Zootopia was first shown to me in my high school Spanish class as a fun film to watch whenever we needed to pass time. We watched it almost weekly, and although in Spanish, I loved the characters and was always engaged with the narrative. Finding Nemo played a memorable role in my childhood experience of animation and and I vividly remember watching the film while reclined in my chair at the dentist office.
However, in deciding on a primary source for my research topic, I resonated more closely with Zootopia. When revisiting the narrative, I was able to immediately form connections to past topics we have studied in Humanities Core such as animal representations in medieval bestiaries, indigenous and ethnic discrimination, and power struggles between the incarcerated and the free.
In exploring Zootopia, I plan to focus on its animal representations and how it relates to and reflects other animal representations we have studied throughout this course. I also want to further examine the film's themes of racial and gender inequalities along with the role of socio-economic prejudice in the police system.
Page updated
Report abuse