A is for Atom, by John Sutherland, is a 1950s American public information film, very much of the type which has become the subject of parody across popular culture (Jurassic Park's Mr. DNA is startlingly similar in its simplification of grand scientific concepts). While it may be somewhat outdated in its political views, it still exemplifies how animation is well suited to presenting complex ideas in a manner which is easier for an audience to digest.
What drew my attention to this particular animation is not its scientific content or educational tone, but rather how it communicates with relatively little animation. Much of the time, the camera moves within a still frame, which can be just a effective as a fully animated film. In fact, given the complexity of ideas discussed, it is probably good decision making to keep the animation simple, so as not distract from the vast quantities of information that the viewer is expected to digest. As Fiona and I are intending to rely mainly on stills and minimal animation or camera movements, we could use the example set by A is for Atom, and take high resolution stills which we could then track though using After Effects.
Unlike the other documentaries I have studied, which have veered more towards the poetic mode (in which the imagery can be more abstract and less coherent), A is for Atom is very much expository, with a stern and authoritative voice, calling for imagery which closely matches and represents the concepts being discussed. After all, the aim of the film is to inform and educate the viewer, so providing strong visual aids to the voice over is key.
No comments:
Post a Comment