I chose Coraline’s opening for this assignment because it was the first film that came to mind when Briana was explaining the assignment. And also I never skipped it whenever I watched the movie which is extremely rare because I always skip the opening. The opening features a doll being taken apart and reassembled, symbolizing the themes of manipulation and control central to the story. With no dialogue, the sequence tells a visual story, raising curiosity and draws the viewers into the film. And the haunting music and crazy attention to detail make it both unsettling and mesmerizing, perfectly setting stage for the rest of the movie. And also the Lead Animator for this opening was Anthony Scott, who worked on The Nightmare Before Christmas, James And The Giant Peach, Corpse Bride, ParaNorman, The Little Prince, and the most recent Pinocchio movie.
The opening of Coraline was inspired from earlier woks in stop-motion and hand crafted animation that evoke a similar sense on detailed, eerie visuals. One likely influence is the work of Jan Švankmajer, a Czech filmmaker known for his surreal stop-motion films where objects like dolls, fabric, and household items come to life creepy dreamlike ways. The work of Švankmajer that likely influenced the opening of Coraline is “Alice” (1988). In Alice, Švankmajer uses deconstructed dolls and sewn objects that closely mirrors the tone of Coraline’s opening. While Švankmajer influence isn’t officially confirmed, his work resonates strongly with the haunting, handcrafted aesthetic of Coraline.
Keita Kurosaka is a Japanese animator, filmmaker, and artist known for his experimental and authentic approach to animation and storytelling. His work often combines the traditional-drawn techniques with surreal and grotesque imagery, illustrating a unique and haunting visual style. And there are several recurring themes, reflecting his fascination with the subconscious, the grotesque, and the fragility of human existence. He blurs the lines between humans and nature, raising ethical and environmental questions about the coexistence and exploitation. His films frequently delve into mortality and isolation, using dreamlike worlds to exert control over his characters, placing them in uncomfortable settings that reflect their inner thoughts and desires.
“A person’s true strength is not measured by the things they can control, but by ho they handle the things they cannot.” This quote from Midair no Hibi captures the central message of the series, emphasizing that strength is not about power or control, but about how you would react and choose when facing unpredictable situations. One’s true character is revealed through the choices they make when their not in control.
One of his most notable works is “Midori-ko”(2010), a feature animated film, that took over a decade to complete, has had a significant cultural impact by challenging conventional animation norms and addressing pressing societal themes. As an entirely hand-drawn, independently produced film, it serves as a countercultural statement within the animation industry, inspiring independent creators to pursue experimental projects. Even though the film was a success, it did receive criticism and mixed reactions, primarily to its unconventional approach and uncomfortable themes. Critics and viewers who are more familiar to mainstream animal or polished animation styles sometimes found to film to be too raw. Additionally, some views were disturbed by the film’s intense and unsettling imagery, which blurs the line between beauty and horror. But thank god, these aspects, however, were seen as strengths in the eyes of art and film enthusiasts, who appreciated and were inspired its authentic and deeper philosophical undertones.
I don’t really like anime, because im mainly inspired by mangas like Juujika no Rokunin, Berserk, and Goodnight Punpun.
In Koji Morimoto’s films, fear is often portrayed as a surreal, unsettling force that invades both he physical and psychological worlds of his characters. He uses vivid, distorted visuals and smooth animation to make the fear feel overly intense. For example, in Magnetic Rose from memories (1995), fear emerges from isolation and haunting memories with dark, claustrophobic settings and flickering lights making characters feel trapped, both in space and in their minds. Morimoto often showcase fear as a confrontation with the unknown or a loss of control, creating the surreal atmosphere where reality just blurs and merges with imagination. His characters experiences fear to the degree where to them it’s not just as an emotion but as an existential force, one that alters their perceptions, forcing them to make decisions or to confront deep, often hidden parts of themselves.
Magnetic Rose in memories is often considered one of Morimoto’s most impactful contributions to animation. This film is noted for its meticulous detail, bold animation, and ability to create suspense through a haunting depth of atmosphere and emotional intensity that set a new standard for quality and inspired animators around the world. Exploring themes like, memory, loss, and obsession in a beautiful way, and rather relying on jump scares or monsters, it creates fear through atmosphere, decaying environments, and eerie lighting to convey a sense of abandonment and decay. Like how Morimoto like to do in his phycological horror films, Magnetic Rose blurs the line between memory and reality. As the characters explore the abandoned ship, they are drawn into the memories of the opera singer Eva, which materialize around them as if they’re relieving her past. This surreal approach where memories physically contributes to the real world adds more layers to the narrative which pulls the viewer deeper into the psychological horror.
I chose Perfect Blue as my favorite horror film because it masters psychological depth. Just like Magnetic Rose, instead of relying on typical horror tropes, the film dives into Mima’s mind, portraying her paranoia and confusion as she questions her reality. This type of horror feels personal and relatable, making it even more chilling as viewers can empathize with her feelings of being watched, trapped, and manipulated. Other horror films would have their protagonists be this star or have crazy narratives, where viewers can’t seem to find themselves, so the film would have different tactics for viewers to be drawn by. However, many films that use these tropes end up feeling extremely repetitive, while Perfect Blue stands out by connecting with the viewers. It taps into a basic human instinct, the need to find ourselves in everything. Perfect Blue portrays identity and reality in ways that make the audience question their own perceptions, allowing them to find pieces of themselves in Mima’s journey. This personal connection is what makes the horror in Perfect Blue so memorable.
The Iron Giant (1999) is an animated science fiction film directed by Brad Bird and produced by Warner Bros. The film blends themes of identity, mortality and the human capacity for choice. Set against the backdrop of Cold War-era paranoia, the story explains the conflict between fear and understanding, the nature of free will vs predetermined purpose. The film focuses on a boy named Hogarth Hughes, who one night discovers a giant robot that crash-landed from space. The Iron Giant who is designed as a weapon of mass destruction, isn’t aware of its destructive capabilities, who he learns from Hogarth that it is capable of more than violence. Hogarth’s almost gentle and repeating words of “You are who you choose to be,” clarifying that one’s purpose does not dictate by their nature but by their choices following by its actions. The film also examines the human tendency to fear of the unpredictable. Kent Mansley, the government agent, seeing the Giant as a global threat rather than a being capable of change and peace. While through Hogarth’s innocent wisdom poses a counterpoint to Mansley’s fear driven worldview, advocating for compassion and understanding as the paths to peace.
Gerald McBoing Boing (1950)
Gerald McBoing Boing (1950) is an animated short film by UPA directed by Robert Cannon. The animation is minimalistic, using simplified, abstract designs and a bold use of color. A young boy named Gerald communicates entirely through sound effects like whistles, bells, and boings, which led his parents concerned and seeking help from a doctor and a schoolteacher. However still no one can figure out why Gerald can’t talk normally, until when he gave the schoolteacher a call. It was then when they discovered that they can hear him talking normally, just through calls. However in Dr. Seuss’s Gerald McBoing Boing, Gerald was noticed by a radio station owner who recognizes the potential in his sound effects abilities. Who then offers Gerald a job creating sound effects for radio programs.
Both Gerald McBoing Boing and The Iron Giant share a central theme of embracing individuality and turning what makes someone different into a strength. In both stories, the main characters are misunderstood because of their unique traits that was initially perceived as problems, are finally embraced and celebrated. However the short film Gerald McBoing Boing is way lighthearted, and a whimsical tone, using humor and a playful animation style addressing Gerald’s struggles. The Iron Giant, while still an animated film, has more of a serious emotional tone, dealing with heavy themes like war, fear and sacrifice. The film delves deeper into complex emotions like the ethics of violence.
The documentary animation chosen is OverSimplified’s take on Napoleonic Wars. This video would guide you through Napoleon’s rise from his childhood to becoming one of the most influential military figures in history. The documentary re-creates key events like Napoleon’s campaigns, his eventual defeat at Waterloo, and his lonely death. OverSimplified does an amazing job for condensing complex historical events into short, entertaining animated videos while still maintaining factual accuracy.
This documentary fits into the category of “Re-creation of reported events” because it visually represents well-documented historical events. The portrayal of Napoleon’s life events stays true to the historical timeline, using animation illustrate battles and political changes. While humorous in its presentation, the core facts such as dates, battles, and major decisions remain accurate. The dramatic exaggeration of Napoleon’s and many other figures’ personality doesn’t alter the historical truth.
