OUAN404 - Visual Language, Spaces and Places: Environmental Animations 2

OUAN404 - Environmental Animations:

Although very popular and probably an obvious choice, Studio Ghibli is a brilliant example of how environments are drawn in animation successfully. I looked at Spirited Away as a more specific example and I find that the scenery is really attractive and well thought out in terms of angles, space and point of view. You find that with some animation, the angles are very linear and flat as not a lot of experimentation has been made as more focus goes on the characters and storyline. I prefer an equal amount of attention to be given to environment as if it is well set and beautifully drawn, it can set the emotion and feel of the scene instantly without having to show a single character's face to give away the atmosphere.

Environment is the first thing you should see in an animation and should pay close attention to it as it primarily sets the scene and allows you understand a little about time period, place and feel. Spirited Away has influences from traditional Japanese architecture (seems appropriate as Miyazaki is of course Japanese and would pay homage to his country), as well as some European. In general, Ghibli films such as Kiki's Delivery Service and Howl's Moving Castle is very European in terms of setting as influences from French and English culture is heavily thrown in. The music usually also helps define this, but the scenery solidifies those suspicions.

The environments in Ghibli films are very traditional looking, hand-painted-anime-style and realistic. I like this look and feel it is successful as the characters often look so unrealistic that placing them in a very real and detailed scene with every window on every building delicately drawn and highlighted to perfection makes up for the loss in reality in the characters. It brings back what often some anime lacks - epic environments! Lush, green, rolling hills and sweeping clouds and winds help to give some emotion to the piece through realism, where the characters do that through unrealistic exaggeration.