If you were to ask a cartoonist what they felt about animation, they'd probably tell you that it's the perfect art form: a masterful blend of the visual arts with sonic and cinematic techniques. In many ways, this is true - good animation not only requires artistic skill, but a knowledge of movement, editing and rhythm. Of course, not all animators have these skills and sometimes, at it's worst, animation can be crude, lifeless, and ugly. But it can also be one of the most beautiful, awe-inspiring forms of expression; a truly unique way of understanding the world around us while bringing new ones to life.
The lack of academic study in the field of animation is astounding and, as animatophiles, it becomes our job to approach this art form and it's history with a critical eye. While artists like John Kricfalusi (who did that hot little number above) openly voice their aesthetic, the flat out dismissal of cartoons by academics is unsound. Likewise, as a field that is full of rapid change due not only to aesthetics but technology, it's important that we address all forms of animation and contextualize them without bias.
This new blog, as an addendum to Cinematikal will address the world of animation in full. So... let's get cartooning!
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