Research Documentation no. 3
Title
Writen by Bethany Hayes
The Colours: How Colour can be used to Express the Emotions of a Character in a Hybrid 2D/3D Animation
How can I, with the use of colour, show the state of mind of a character within a light-hearted short hybrid 2D/3D animation?
I use Discord as one of the platforms for my research documentation “Discord is a real-time chat platform that was founded four years ago as a way to make it easier for gamers to communicate. But over the past year, it has outgrown its origin story and become the default place where influencers, YouTubers, Instagram meme accounts, and anyone with an audience can connect with their community.” (Lorenz, 2019)
The rationale is to illustrate a story inspired by ‘The Amazing World of Gumball, The Faith’ with the usage of colour and grey to be able to tell a tale as well as the characters themselves. Bethany, the unique contribution your work makes to the field is not yet clear. You could, for example, say. . .
I am using both practice-led and practice-based research therefore I am documenting and reflecting on my own unique methodological approach including the use of animation as a form of inquiry. This methodological approach to producing my animated short film represents a contribution of new knowledge to the field while building on existing dialogues nationally and internationally about the use of colour as an expressive tool to support visual narratives around issues of depression and anxiety. I also outline my use of the relatively new (2015) digital platform Discord as a digital research tool.
My project methodology is both practice-led and practice-based supported by documentation using Blogger. I use Blogger because it is easy to update and for others to access online. I also use Discord for content sharing and communication/feedback with others online.
Organisation?
Firstly, I discuss my methodology, then I go on to talk about my use of Discord as a research tool. Then I move to key influencers for my work in an aesthetic way. Finally, the influences for my characters relationships and developments mentally. Struggling to find the words....
I tend to group paragraphs 1-2, 3-4, and 5-6 together as they can link well together (1 Blogging, 2 Discord = Commumication/Documentation) (3 Gumball, 4 InsideOut = Aesthetic or feel/idea of the film) (5 Friendship, 6 Thoughts/Outlook = Internal/Mental things within the character)
Practice-based and practice-led research alongside active documentation via a blog is the methodology utilised in my project. Blogging is the tool I use to both show my progress with my work, but also to incorporate aspects of my daily life that inform my practice. Blogging can be both engaging for readers wherever they are, and a reflection for the author themselves, going over past blog posts. Dr Naomi Barnes, a prominent researcher into media culture and an active blogger states;
To read just one of my blogs is to know only a part of me, but a whole part of me in that moment of time and space. My blog has no brand or social media strategy. I write about my life, my thinking, my hope for the future. I write my struggle with my world that seems to lack so much in hope into existence at the same time as trying to solve the struggle. My blogging is a map, not a snapshot (Barnes, 2017, p. 24).
I agree with Barnes that blogging communicates more than just a post. Blogging can reveal more about the author and who they are and what they want to achieve, whether it be their hopes and dreams or goals. I use my blog to record important milestones, achievements, setbacks and other key events. I also use labels to make it easier to navigate. How does this practice serve your project?
Discord is a useful online platform for my research as it allows me to share content, communicate and get feedback from others about my evolving ideas. “” Discord is the central platform for everyone. It’s already the place you go to talk to people and about things you care about,” said Matt Enloe, a lawyer in Chicago who helps moderate a popular Discord server for a productivity podcast.” (Lorenz, 2019) where does this quote start and end? I use Discord for many reasons; organisation, content sharing, and communication. The organisation within each chat is a great way of keeping the chats tidy and organised. Also, there are many ways to share content with others, either though voice and/or video chats, screen sharing and image sharing. It is an easy way to increase communication with my tutors and classmates. I can socialise, give/receive feedback, have group or one-on-one conversations with all my classmates and tutors all of which contribute to my research practice. Some of this reads as a bit repetitive. Can you explain how you have used this specifically in the development of your project.
Colour versus black and white is used in my animation ‘The Colours’ to express contrast in the central character’s thoughts and feelings. Amazing World of Gumball is this a title? – The Faith is this a title? uses black and white to demonstrate the inner struggles and feelings of character Allen, who had lost his faith in the world. Italicize titles. When main characters Gumball and Darwin reach Allen, the world is black and white. Together, Gumball and Darwin are able to help their friend find colour in the world again, and not give up his faith to keep going. When Allen finds his faith again, the colour returns and all is bright again. (Graves 2008 - 2019) With black and white being used to show meaning more than colour, this example is perfect for my own work, as I am using black and white in the same way. I am using black and white to show the negative inner thoughts and feelings of my main character Joel. I will show how the black and white or negativity can spread, but also (like with Allen) how friends can help you see the colour in the world again and to be happy.
Colour associations are used to represent the variations in the character’s transition through various emotions. In Inside Out (APA reference for films) emotions in the main character Riley, an eleven year old girl, are personified, and we as the audience are privy to them fighting it out for dominance in her head. A key moment in the film is when the emotion Joy realises that Riley also needs the emotion of Sadness. Though out the film, Joy never understood Sadness, seeing her as a hindrance. But later in the film Joy finally understands. She investigates an old happy core memory only to realise that the happy memory came from a sad memory. Joy then lets Sadness take control to help Riley, as the only way to get her out of the numb/black and white feeling is with Sadness. (Docter 2015) Inside Out is known for this use of colour theory to express feelings. I plan to use the same techniques of how they show sadness, joy, anger and many other emotions within my own work. They portray the numb feeling as black and white, and I also show the numb feeling as black and white. Similarly, Riley’s goes away with Sadness, and my character Joel’s goes away with the hope that his friend gives him.
‘The Colours’ displays a relationship, where supporting and never giving up on each other is the key for a deeper and more meaningful friendship. ___ Use Toy Story
The negative thoughts within my character's mind impacts their happiness and/or outlook on life. ___Use InsideOut
In conclusion I have questioned how, with the use of colour, I could show the state of mind of a character within a light-hearted short hybrid 2D/3D animation? I have relayed my project methodology including the use of Discord for sharing content, and described how I have used the contrast of black and white and colour to convey my character's thought and feelings in a short film. I also highlighted that friendship is often between people who share support and understanding, and finally showing that negative thoughts impact my characters mind and therefore their happiness and/or outlook on life.
For my examples for these arguments, I used Dr Naomi Barnes, who stated “To read just one of my blogs is to know only a part of me, but a whole part of me in that moment of time and space... My blogging is a map, not a snapshot” -88 (Barnes, 2017, p. 24). I included ““Discord is the central platform for everyone. It’s already the place you go to talk to people and about things you care about,” said Matt Enloe” (Lorenz, 2019). I used Amazing World of Gumball – The Faith (what is this? No reference?) for how they use black and white to demonstrate the inner struggles and feelings of character Allen, who had lost his faith in the world (Graves 2008 - 2019). Also, I investigated Inside Out’s key point in the film when Joy realises that Riley needs Sadness (Docter 2015). I also defined with Suzan Collins “People with often think of a good friend as someone who offers support and understanding – who is loyal, caring and always willing to listen and help, even during difficult times” (Collins 2015). Finally, ____
With that all said, I use my blog to record important milestones, achievements, setbacks and other key events. I also use labels to make it easier to navigate. I use Discord for many reasons; organisation, content sharing, and communication. I use black and white to show the inner thoughts and feelings of my main character Joel. I show the numb feeling as black and white. Joel’s numbness goes away with hope that his friend gives him. I show a show deeper friendship within my project by having both characters be loyal, caring, understanding and supportive to each other. I will be making the main character react to the negative and positive feelings/thoughts which leads them to either seeing a positive outlook on their lives, or negative. Some of this content is quite repetitive, think more careful about what you have discovered through the progression of your project so far this year. Let's meet and discuss further.
APA References
1| Barnes, N. (2017). “Blogging as a method of inquiry” Recontextualizing Education Research Methodology. Page 24. Australia: Queensland University or Technology.
4| Docter, P. Persichetti (Director). (2015). Inside Out [Motion Picture].
3| Graves, M (Director). (2008 - 2019). Amazing World Of Gumball [Television series].
2| Lorenz, T (March 12th, 2019) How an App for Gamers Went Mainstream. The Atlantic. Retrieved from https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2019/03/how-discord-went-mainstream-influencers/584671/ (11/06/2020)
5| Toy Story
6| InsideOut again
Blog Link: https://bethanys1t3.blogspot.com/
My research add title aims to demonstrate how the use of colour can portray a character’s state of mind within a short hybrid 2D/3D animation. The project incorporates practice-based and practice-led research methodologies, alongside active documentation via blogging and the use of Discord. The Amazing World of Gumball and Inside Out were employed as relevant influences in my conveyance of my main characters feelings via the use of colour. Through colour I aim to display the juxtaposition of positive and negative emotions, while illustrating the true meaning of friendship. In order to accurately depict the chosen themes within this animation project, investigation into aspects of relationships was required, in addition to reviewing how thinking/acting in a negative way can impact one’s life and that of others. The project research found that colour can be a successful method of illustrating or enhancing character emotions in a 2D/3D animation.
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