We need to protect the briefcase! Link to video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnuYi-nzE90
Continuing my Animation analysis of the "Meet the Spy" trailer, this post will focus on caricature and its use (or lack thereof) in the video.
Caricature in terms of animation is defined as exaggerating movement or character designs to a point that they are not realistic. An example of this would be an exaggerated walk, one that the movements are far more complex and extravagant than they really need to be. Caricature is often used in animation to give characters more unique traits, such as unique walks, gestures, facial expressions, and similar facets. The argument against caricature is often that if a character is too far exaggerated they become less believable and the audience will not relate or even like them. Arguments in support of caricature often state that the exaggeration is what makes the characters more endearing. The subtle mockery of small things the individual does in life allows the character to be more "lifelike" in their own way.
An argument of what is more true, caricature or realism is a hard one to take a side on. Both sides have their own merit to relate to the audience and allow them to become immersed in the created world. I believe that neither are really "more true" than the other. Having seen both realistic animation and heavily caricatured works I can see the truth that both can convey.
On the one hand realism creates a world much like our own, with all of the "rules" and "laws" that come with it. Because of this many of the characters, objects, even backgrounds will fit with how our minds perceive reality and we'll become immersed in the idea that what's happening in the created world could happen in ours as well. Characters will resemble people we've actually met, or aspects of our personality that we experience in every day life. A person's walk, the way a box falls out of a window, the way a car makes a jump. Even if exaggerated a tiny bit, they still feel real to the viewer, and that's what ultimately makes the experience true to them.
On the other hand, caricature taps into another section of the audience's minds to create an experience. While often used for comedic effect, caricature's exaggerating style can also be used to really bring out parts of a serious character's personality. For example, it might be used to give a villainous character a much more twisted demeanor than would be "normal" making the audience uncomfortable or uneasy when that character is around. Caricature can give fantastic qualities to even mundane objects, like stove equipment or cutlery. It can help to reinforce a theme or a feeling that realism would need far more dialogue or environment working to convey. Caricature's strengths also lie in it giving a new life to characters. In realist works characters may have slight differences in how they walk but in the end all people really have a similar walk. With caricature each character's movements can completely represent their personality, from simple things like how they move their hands to how they exclaim in joy or fear. In this way each character can become absolutely unique and the audience will usually have a clear cut idea of whether they like a them or not. By creating an environment that extends past the idea of what is "real" caricature brings audiences into an entirely new world with its own physics, characters, and movements. In this way it creates a sense of wonder and awe that can define truth in its own way.
The "Meet the Spy" trailer is interesting in that it uses caricature in the designs and general movements of each character, but at the same time many designs are also realistic, as well as the physics of the world the animation takes place in. As explained before in the last entry, each character (The Spy, Soldier, Scout, and Heavy) moves in a way that is completely their own. The Spy moves slowly, deliberately, reflecting his entire way of thinking. The Soldier muscles through clumsily but efficiently. The Scout is fast-talking, fast-moving. His movements carry his attitude and his penchant for being a bit of a loud-mouth. The Heavy's lumbering movements even when not excited show his power, and when he moves with purpose (as when he charges through the door at the beginning) he seems unstoppable. In this way the characters are exaggerated to truly portray their personalities. Their designs also rely on caricature, from the small frame of the Scout to the monstrous form of the Heavy (His hand is easily larger than the Scout's head). Each character's design from voice to movement to their general appearance was created to convey that small set of ideas they are built around, Power and Efficiency for the Soldier, Speed and Attitude for the Scout, Power and More Power for the Heavy, and Tactics and Slyness for the Spy.
Alternatively realism is used within the world in subtle ways to keep it from seeming to ridiculous. Each character has two legs, two hands, five fingers per hand and so on. The items on each character move realistically in relation to them. When the Soldier stumbles down the stairs the grenades on his chest and his helmet hop around accurately, when the Spy slaps the files on the Scout's mother on the table the pictures slip out like we think they should. These subtle movements give the audience the feeling that while this world is very different from ours, many parts of it work the same. This makes it easier to relate to their world and allows the viewer to concentrate more on the situation at hand. While the animation relies more on caricature than realism, it uses both in a mixture that works well for creating a world that is entertaining but also believable.
What is more true? Caricature creates exaggerated worlds that are amusing and still believable. Realism creates worlds that mirror our own in many ways, allowing us to know how things will happen without needing much explanation. Both styles create a path to a true experience, they're just paved differently. In the end it really comes down to taste. Some people prefer characters and worlds that closely resemble our own, while other people want to be lost in a new and fantastic world. Its an argument that will most likely never be settled, and that's fine. Both styles provide an exciting and entertaining look into the world of animation and ultimately that is what is more true.
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