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Senior Project Proposal

Daria Bazzi

September 31, 2014

  1. Title of Project:

        Adventures in Animation

  1. Statement of Purpose:

Animation has always been a popular form of entertainment and expression, from animals drawn at different stages in prehistoric caves to shadow puppets to flip books to movies drawn frame by frame to stop motion to CGI. But how does a person get started in animation as a means of telling a story, amidst this hodge podge of things? How would they go about making a successful project of their own—not to mention getting into the industry? In short, how does one become a successful animator? Join me on my journey in finding out.

  1. Background:

Though I’ve been trained in studio art for the last four years, I’ve been drawing ever since I can remember. I recall being a three-year-old, desperately wanting to draw a flower. The day I did, I was ecstatic. I’d practiced and practiced and practiced, and enjoyed every second of the journey. I’ve painted drama sets, made props, acted—character animation itself is the art of acting through drawing. I’ve catered to the masses while still adding my own flair, creating advertisements all around the school, being creative and functional simultaneously in expression (which is what animation should be). I’ve done the same through comics for the school newspaper, creating stories through sequential images. I’ve improvised while playing with my brother and sister, fabricating narratives and action out of our surroundings, stuffed animals, and sometimes out of nothing at all.  

  1. Prior Research:

There’s a reason “anima” in Latin means life or soul; animation is an art of storytelling. It’s about making things come alive, and with spirit. From cavemen's raw paintings on cave walls to the Egyptian hieroglyphs lining the insides of pyramids to da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man to flipbooks and zoetropes to today’s high-tech, 3D animated films, the idea of creating the semblance of life through motion has existed throughout the ages.

Drawing is something that should be done constantly (Povenmire). Drawing from observation, especially. Animation draws from life, after all. There should also be an emphasis on collaboration, learning from those around you, and taking criticism while being able to implement said criticisms into your own work. However, it’s also important to have your own style, or voice (Porter). Though you should be versatile, you should also have your own flair in everything you do, to demonstrate that you’re cohesive, in a sense.

Lastly, animation should be an ongoing learning process. You should always be a student, and never satisfied with where you are. There are always innovations going on, in any field, and there’s no point being stuck in your own technique if you’re going to be behind the times (Culhane). Thus, through this project and throughout my life, I hope to forever maintain my curiosity when it comes to creation.

  1. Significance:

Most studies related to animation are done with regards to employment opportunities. The projected growth of employment rates is a mere 6% according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics; the growth will be due to more demand in the entertainment industry for animators in the realms of gaming, film, and television. About 57% of workers are self-employed, as jobs go very quickly, and the arena is very competitive. However, in addition to collecting and sharing advice on how to get started in the realm of animation and in the industry, I will also be creating my own animation, and thus walking the public through the process, hopefully showing everyone that the magic you see on screen is not an impossible feat!      

  1. Description:

The research will involve researching online, through books, through newspapers, and other mediums. I will simultaneously devise, produce, design, and animate my own animated piece. Part of being a successful animator and getting into the industry is, understandably, getting one’s feet wet.  

  1. Methodology:

My research will most likely not be conducted in an explicit step-by-step process, as I will most likely be doing many things simultaneously, and much of it will depend upon other people’s schedules, as well. I shall be researching all aspects of creating an animation, from concept to writing to storyboarding to creation and execution, all the while creating my own piece and applying the things I learn. In addition to this, I will interview animators in the field Robert Porter, Dan Povenmire, Carol Wyatt, Peter Hannan, and Nick Jennings, and hopefully glean knowledge from them as to the path to success. This will all be conglomerated to come up with advice and steps to breaking into  the industry and making one’s own animated piece. I will be meeting with my advisors every two weeks to set goals and discuss progress.

  1. Problems:

Some people may decline to be interviewed, though we will target people who are more likely to say yes in the first place. In terms of time, I’ll have to make sure to pace and plan everything so I have my project done on time by setting realistic goals in terms of the length and complexity of the film. I need to make sure I have the software necessary to execute it, as well. I’ll have to research a lot on my own, so that might be harder than if I was constantly working with an on-site mentor.

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