"So ... what do you do for a living?"
I tend to cringe when asked, my mind racing on just how to parse the best answer. That means I have to make that whatchamacallit between my ears work, the thing I fondly call a meat calculator.
Meat Calculator Option 1:
"I'm an animator."
Meat Calculator Option 2:
"I'm a college professor."
Truthfully, Option 2 only gains you a moment, a stay of execution -- enough time to shift the weight on those dress shoes you haven't worn in a while, before your new acquaintance follows up with the second line of logical inquiry.
"Really? What do you teach?"
And so here it comes. I take a breath. I confess,
"Animation. Film and art classes."
I shrug, and take a drink of whatever's in my glass.
"Animation? Whoa ... that's so cool!"
Let's stop here. You're probably thinking what's wrong with this? Right? Honestly, nothing. I normally love these reactions when people learn about who I am, what I do, and if that were the end of it ... well, there'd be no point in writing this blog.
But its not. It's the last question that I hate.
"So like ... you do cartoons, right?"
And there it is. That one word we animators despise. Cartoons!
And I shouldn't. I grew up watching cartoons. Johnny Quest rules! And I remember watching the first few seasons of Scooby-Doo from outside the doorway of our family room in our split level ranch because the show scared the $&!+ out of me (and I loved every minute of it).
Frankly, I'm here where I am today because of cartoons, but its the wrong title for an animator. Here's why --
The word 'cartoon' presumes that what we do as animators has only comical or entertainment value. Yes, mainstream animation is funny, entertaining, and profitable, but there's more to it than that, and there's more to being an animator then being society's court jester -- and that too is my point.
Let's think of it this way.
Saying an animator makes cartoons is like saying a serious actor -- Meryl Streep, Anthony Hopkins, Patrick Steward, pick one -- is just a clown. See my point?
Imagine this scenario:
"Hey guys, look who's here! It's that Merly Streep chick. Man, Ms. Streep I love your work. Do something funny! Make me laugh!"
Afterwards, Ms. Streep only has to worry about where to hide the body of one wrongfully assuming fan. But do you understand, interested reader, where I'm coming from? Animation is an art, with more to offer than just fart jokes and falling anvils. When we're asked that question ...
"So like ... you do cartoons, right?"
We have to frame a disclaimer, and that's never fun.
"Well, yes, cartoons are part of it, but there's more. There's lots of interesting work being done by serious artist working in the medium of animation that ... ah ... "
"Hey, great. Super."
My new acquaintance looks at their watch.
"Been nice meeting you."
And my new friend beats a track for the buffet table, leaving me feeling foolish. Imagine the now permanent frown lines on my face at this point in my life.
So, help me out, interested reader. Expand your horizons and discover what I mean. Animation has the power to touch, to move, to communicate, offend, arouse, educate as much as any live-action film, or work of art. But I believe animation can do more because it has the power to caricature and modify its moving subjects. Film can be literal. It can state through its images.
A picture of a rose is just that.
But animation has the power to modify a subject.
A rose can be a rose, but it can also transform -- in color, in shape, in size. It can anthropomorphize and speak, sing, dance. A broom with arms and hands can effectively express a theme, a metaphor and allegory that can foster a profound experience on an audience.
So I charge you, interested reader, to do that. Expose yourself to what more animation can be. I've made links to sites and films that I believe will enlighten you to what I'm saying. Some will be challenging. I hope all are unforgettable.
So enjoy. Watch. Consider. Take your time. I'll wait.
Lowell
http://www.viddler.com/explore/Ms_Valerie/videos/240/
http://www.mothkettle.com/blog/labels/hilary.html
http://www.onf.ca/film/Walking
http://www.nfb.ca/film/The_Street/
http://www.skydavid.com/art.aspx
http://www.geogrif.com/data/qts/linmad.mov -- excerpt from his film Lineage
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQFnM3-soeQ&eurl=http://www.youtube.com/my_videos_edit2
http://www.bentimagelab.com/
