A big part of my teaching work is trying to get students to break down the animation, composition and timing of well known, and not so well known, performance animation from around the world. Whether it is a short cartoon, in-game or a feature film, you can learn so much from studying the work of others.
This post breaks down a shot to show the rhythm created by combining thoughtful staging, production design, strong key-frames and character performance. It uses the environment as a method of framing parts of the scene and also as a way to bring the characters together.
The example is Studio Ghibli's 2001 film 'Spirited Away', directed by Hayao Miyazaki.
The scene is a peaceful interaction between sen and Lin after a crazy day at the bath house.
Exterior Wide Establishing shot
Long shot
...Lin walks in carrying steamed buns...
Top railing follows rule of thirds
Lin's face framed by railings
Lighting
& doorway also frame Lin
Sen
is constricted into a corner of a frame...
However, Sen is now part of Lin's silhouette...a sign that they are growing closer together...
Lin passes food to Sen THROUGH the railings...
Rather than being a passive object throughout the scene the railings become an integral part of the performance from this point; the characters reaching through, rest arms on them and even dangling their legs through them.
This makes a visually mundane scene way more appealing and dynamic, without compromising the pace of the performance to accomplish this.
shows reaching out & a desire to give comfort.
As Sen joins in…
They strike new poses..
Ma! Lin is inclined towards Sen, Sen is more relaxed…
Miyazaki
‘…non-stop action … it's just busyness. but if you take a moment, then the tension building in the film can grow into a wider dimension.’
‘We have a word for that in Japanese. It's called ma. Emptiness.’
Sen now commands the negative space…The scene becomes hers again…
(This towel exists to fill this gap, not distracting)
Reverse angle, double lighting change and more Ma!
The lighting change here is particularly interesting as it puts the audience in the scene. As the lights go out behind us; our eyes adjust to the night scene and the view over the water becomes visible.
This post is taken from a new lecture looking at the structure of a scene and how the composition and performance tell the story.
The example is Walt Disney Pictures 'Big Hero 6'; directed by Don Hall & Chris Williams.
This scene is a cliche negotiation scene where a child tries to convince an adult authority figure of some threat and fails miserably, only to flee at the threat of 'Hang on while I call your parents'!
Invaders from Mars 1953
To make this scene more interesting and unique the actual negotiation is Hiro trying not to be distracted by Baymax's antics leaking air and repairing himself with sticky tape. In a way Baymax is the child, bored by the conversation and just trying to amuse itself.
This gives the scene far more visual and comedic interest.
Wide Establishing shot
Slow track in , some traffic goes by. The building is very traditional and old.
Wide Interior Establishing
Slow track in. Baymax is very passive.
Cut on head move of police man to...
Medium Shot
Turns head to establish eye-line for dialogue.
The tape dispenser is in shot, priming the audience for the gag.
Medium Shot
Plenty of space around Hiro, head framed by lighter doors behind.
180 rule established with the cop.
Hiro's actions progress towards the lens, making him keen and eager to tell all.
Medium Shot
The cop has very limited movement and facial expression. Great finger anticipation during speech. He has seen everything and is not going to be moved.
Medium Shots
In contrast Hiro gives a very broad, energetic and highly charged performance.
Medium Shot
In this shot the cop is very still, hands not moving, not drawing the audiences eye!. This leaves the frame ready for Baymax's hand to come in and take a piece of sticky tape.
Detail of medium shot
The action of Baymax's hand coming in to take some tape is simple but still managers to display a charming use of curves in the movement. As hand moves out cut-on-move to...
Cut-away Medium Shot
All Baymax's moves are robotic and limited; no shoulder movement. This makes the situation funnier and more surreal.
Medium Shot
It is interesting to note comedy always works better if the subject is either front on or at 90 degrees to the camera.
Cutting away to Baymax allowed the camera to cross the 180 line between the two humans.
Medium Long shot
Detail of medium long shot
Veeeeery slow blink.
Medium c/u shot
Repetition of the same gag reinforces it.
Medium shot
Cut back to the cop who pushes the dispenser closer to Baymax.
Because we have cut back this way we have crossed back over the 180 line ready for dialogue to continue.
Medium shots
Hiro is still highly energised and his end pose directs the audiences attention back to Baymax.
Long shot
Reverse angle; 180 rule observed. Baymax has half of the screen to perform in. He is clear of props and visual distractions to his performance.
Long shot
All keys have strong silhouettes with great use of negative space.
Close-up shot
Long shot
Low battery symbol visually reinforces what Baymax is saying.
Medium shot
Less is more! The 'seen everything' cop does not even blink at this.
Close-up
New angle on Baymax. Eyes blinking out-of-sync.
Cuts on blink to Baymax own view...
Medium Close-up shot
Pull focus with hand held feel to shot.
Two shot
Over the shoulder two-shot. The image of Baymax deflating is reinforced by his eye squashing shut when his head is on Hiro's head.
Medium shot
Cop moves on chair to back table. The chair does NOT move in a straight line, but has a graceful curving track.
This is the moment that the cop says he is going to ring Hiro's parents. Time to go!
Medium Two shot
Medium shot
Cop turns back, stopping half way to look at clip board and to give time for the duo to leave the room...
Medium shot
Pull out to show tape dispenser, it even moves to screen right slightly...cop looks at it briefly...cut-on-move...
Wide Reverse shot
This wide reverse angle shows reveals the now empty reception area as the tape dispenser jumps off of the table and flies to the closed door.
The narrative continues outside for a couple of shots.
cut to exterior...
The whole scene is an excellent example of good planning, composition and manipulation of the audiences attention. The acting is strong and the use of strong key frames is great.
