After this week’s lecture, I decided to analyze the award-winning animated short “Metamorphosis”. It was created in 2020 by Kaifu Liu and published on Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReSE2IvNjT0). While it is not acknowledged by scholars, I believe it is a good example of experimental animation.
It has elements of formative abstraction and manipulation of form and space. Colour (only black and white) and form (lineart animation, only basic shadows). However, as a viewer, I have no problem with reading shapes and their language. The visual message is clear. It is the dynamics of movement, rhythm and sound that are the main theme of the work. It is also a non-dialogued film, drawing elements from surrealism and expressionism. It communicates the narrative through gestures, performance, and alternative audio components.
The artist describes that most of his inspiration comes from personal experiences. The purpose of this short film is to discuss human emotions before entering society. Their involvement is investigative and emotional, trying to convey a message through disturbing sound, chaotic animation (character movements) and surreal representations of human thoughts. All this provides sensory and emotional responses (conceptual abstraction). The artist’s personal and independent vision thus uses both formative and conceptual abstractions.
Wells, P.,1998. Understanding animation. London: Routledge.
Categorisation: The work draws inspiration from Surrealism and Expressionism. It introduces a mood of unease and disturbance. Human figures are always moving, enhancing the impression of tumult. The theme is people’s emotions before entering society (probably social anxiety). An attempt to visualise the thoughts in people’s heads, using symbolism, to convey the feelings of those who suffer from anxiety. I think the techniques used by Kaifu Liu are more abstract and experimental (chaotic line work) than individual scenes, but the whole thing presents itself as a unique work of art.
Process: The animation looks unfinished, but it is this process that reminds me of intrusive thoughts. The movement of the lineart combined with disturbing sounds intensifies this experience. I believe that technique has become an essential part of the message.
Formal Elements: The work explores light, movement, rhythm, timing, tempo, transitions and audio relationships.
Bibliography:
Kaifu Liu (2020) The Metamorphosis. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReSE2IvNjT0 (Accessed: 07 November 2022).