Comparing the characteristics of animation between China and the United States, who is the winner of the "scuffle" between China, the United States and Japan when the immortals fight in the Oscar animation shortlist? Through the comparative analysis of three Chinese, American and Japanese animated films, it is not difficult to find the artistic characteristics of Chinese, American and Japanese animation: Japanese films focus on feelings; American films focus on innovation; Chinese films focus on production, and there are differences in the forms of animation films between China, the United States and Japan.
Comparison of Chinese, American and Japanese Animation
Two days ago, the official website of Oscar released the shortlist of the 93rd "Best Animated Feature" Award, and 27 films from around the world were selected.
Oscar competition units have always been based on the selection style of "diversity, art and commerce", and this year is no exception, The finalists' works are more topical and professional and deserve our attention Among them are "Strange Journey of the Soul" which soon moved countless people, "The Edge of Ghost Destruction" which exploded in the second dimension, and "Jiyuantai No. 7" which won the best film in Venice.
Through the film list, we also saw All representative works of animation teams in China, the United States and Japan were selected Today, natural light takes the perspective of animation production as the starting point to analyze these award winning popular animation teaching! Let's see what the highlights of these Oscar level animations are~
The Artistic Features of Chinese Animation
Jiyuantai No.7
3D to 2D
Representative country - China
Jiyuantai No.7 as the first Finalist of Venice Film Festival The Chinese animated film in the competition unit, after winning the Venice Best Screenplay Award Sweep the 93rd Academy Awards Successful competition! What's so remarkable about this carefully carved cartoon that costs 50 million yuan?
"Jiyuantai No.7" as one "Big production" 2D animation movie The film took 5 years and was completed by many art staff, which gathered a lot of painstaking efforts. with Hong Kong in 1967 As the background, it describes a series of emotional stories between a mother and daughter (Yu Tai and Mei Ling) who drifted from Taiwan to Hong Kong during the turbulent period, and later with their English teacher Zi Ming.
The content outline is adapted from the short stories "Youth Dreamer", "Spring Wind Intoxicated Night" and "Golden House Tears".
Poster of Jiyuantai No.7
The painting style of Jiyuantai No.7 is unique, Realistic but unreal expression technique will elevate the film to "3D" animation, which is first completed in 3D format on the computer, and then hand drawn in 2D animation The overall style of the film further abstracts the impression of the age background on the basis of realism.
Screenshot of Jiyuantai No.7
In addition, the distinctive art scene design, character picture books and dynamic structures are all based on artistic concepts, Sculpt Hong Kong in the 1960s more accurately 。
Screenshot of Jiyuantai No.7
Realistic style is difficult for animation, so many forms different from traditional animation are used in production, such as one shot to show smooth and smooth character actions and delicate and realistic expression animation. Combining realistic and freehand shooting style, It presents an aesthetic expansion in visual effect 。
Finalize some animation character expressions and images
In terms of technical lens design, there are many animated films Dolly lens In the shooting of, because the large pushing and pulling of the pan lens will produce a larger picture, the lines will be elongated, which makes it difficult for the animators to control the picture, causing a jittery effect. So the team Use "3+2" technology to determine a standard line , and then draw by hand to ensure the stability of the picture.
High amplitude lens
From the artistic perspective, the film adds to express the temperament of the characters in the ink wash painting in a single line flat painting through the role production style without light source and shadow, So as to highlight the dramatic aesthetics presented by the whole picture under the strong visual contrast.
This is what the natural light mentioned earlier "Aesthetic expansion" In addition, there is the integration of eastern and western aesthetic elements, so the whole film is more soft and warm in visual aspect.
Screenshot of Jiyuantai No.7
Although the presentation speed of this kind of picture will give some audiences the illusion of "Caton", in fact, this is the personalized needs of the old school filmmakers in narrative. This is an emotional film, It is not an ordinary narrative logic of commercial films.
The reason why Jiyuantai No.7 has been highly recognized by international film art activities is that he has demonstrated a relatively diversified artistic value to the public on the animation road, It also shows the world more possibilities of Chinese animated films.
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The Artistic Features of American Animation
Strange Journey of Soul
Soul Character Design
Representative country - the United States
This cartoon is the climax of its release, Another demonstration of Pixar's "ability" to the audience , a work created by the original crew of "Journey to the Dream Ring", with a special soul perspective, tells the story of "death" with a soft story, and reflects the hope of ordinary life. It deserves the Oscar nomination.
"Spiritual Journey" poster
In addition to the moving story line, the world view setting of this film is more interesting, and the most creative expression is Role concept design.
Creativity and design around "soul" The birth of this "soul" includes artistic style, modeling language, color, script, imaging state, key lens effect, etc.
Expression of soul
After Peter Docter identified the role as the soul, he has always focused on the role presentation Through the study and description of various religions, as well as various attempts and studies, it is found that the key words for the display of "soul" are: air, no substance, breathing, etc.
Therefore, color changes such as rainbow and prism are added to the later production elements to create the dreamy and abstract“ Souls ”。
Character manuscript
In addition to shaping the characters, they also developed a new technique, around the edge of the soul Built these lines , to highlight a specific shape. And combine effects, character departments, scenery and lighting technologies to study how to make these characters work through color.
In the later stage of combining technology, Pixar's creative team broke through the limit of 3D animation again and developed a series of tools that had never been used before to deal with possible problems in production, For example, light processing and character conversion 。
Body, projection gradient, final blending
The lighting effect in the soul, In a scattering way different from traditional animation First, control the diffusion of light, and distinguish the soul from other things, because if the soul is too transparent, the audience will not be able to see their expressions.
In character design, the fusion of colors is mainly ethereal and transparent, so the main colors used are very soft. The addition of unsaturated colors makes the visual effect of the characters more excellent, which can be said to really bring a "spiritual journey" to the audience.
The Artistic Features of Japanese Animation
Blade of Ghost Destruction: Unlimited Train
Emotional linkage CG
Representative country - Japan
This film is based on the cartoon "Ghost Killing Blade" written by I 峠 Hushi. It is a sequel to the TV animation broadcast in 2019. As the theater version of "Ghost Killing Blade Unlimited Train" has become more and more courageous at the box office, and won the third place in the box office of Japanese film history, the corresponding "ghost killing harassment" phenomenon has become more and more serious.
That is to say, because the degree of the animation has reached an unimaginable level, fans are always discussing the Ghost Killing Blade, and they are not separated from Amway Animation to discriminate against those who have not seen the animation.
The Edge of Ghost Destruction: Unlimited Trains poster
Finalized for the Oscar, the theater version of the film - "The Edge of Ghost Extinction. Unlimited Train", its title has already represented the feelings it carries.
In addition to the setting of the story by the author Wu Xuan Hu Shiqing, the overall emotional expression is more attractive to the audience. Because for the Japanese, "train", In fact, there are additional emotional factors.
In Unlimited Trains, 80% of the clips and scenes are mainly trains, and the background in the train becomes an important part of the whole film Narrative space 。
While quickly creating a story space with freshness and persuasiveness Draw the audience into the story to drive the emotions 。
The Artistic Features of Chinese, American and Japanese Animation
The reason why Ghost Killing Blade can drive the mood is that the author has made great efforts to tell "stories" based on traditional creative elements. In addition, it is the visual effect made by CG.
Comparison of Chinese, American and Japanese Animation
The film technician said that when the team was making CG, they were building a basic configuration, and then slowly updating the details, and the whole process was repeated Build Draw Compose.
CG process of Ghost Blade: Unlimited Train
During the initial creation of the film, the team first tried to start from a simple box shaped cube, and then added some layers, stairs and other items, To create a three-dimensional visual effect of people outside the screen.
CG process of Japanese animation
The whole work presents the most moving effect from any angle, whether it is excellent production, progressive expression of emotion or art guidance, They all jump out of the original rigid structure and return to the starting point and root of "animation" 。
Comparison and summary of Chinese, American and Japanese animation
Through the analysis of the above three films, it is not difficult to find that Japanese films pay attention to feelings; American films focus on innovation; Chinese films pay attention to production The forms of expression are different.
In a word, as a special cultural IP, animation films, whether Japanese and Korean, Chinese or European and American, There are certain characteristic elements in their respective cultural output The corresponding market also shows a trend of multi-point flowering, and the future of animation industry is expected.
And colleges and universities in various countries also have their own strengths in animation. We don't need to "label" a country or a culture The final works presented with different tendencies and the students trained will be different. Therefore, before choosing colleges, students should investigate and understand in many ways to choose their favorite teaching style.
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