Stop-Motion Animation

I decided to use a cutout technique for my project, and the entirety of my animation is made out of paper and wooden letters. The inspiration behind my animation was to abolish the idea of the 'dream figure.' I created an animation that represented the difficulties of trying to be ‘perfect.' The animation is a much more simplified version of my own life. As a victim of bullying, I was left with an inability to love my body the way it was. I wanted to make a change, completely altering my lifestyle, over exercising, and documenting everything I ate in a food log or calorie counter just to lose weight. Weight loss, however, is addictive, and after a year I developed anorexia. The animation outlines just how unrealistic it was to weigh myself after every meal I ate, disappointed if my weight went up by even a decimal. I wasn’t deathly skinny, but I wasn’t healthy. At that point I began to hear comments that were the antithesis of what made me begin that journey. Phrases such as ‘too skinny’ and ‘underweight’ replaced ‘fat.’ Much like the animation, I came to the conclusion that I couldn’t win. The purpose of the animation is to spread awareness to the idea we are perfect through our imperfections.