There are, clearly, many different types of animation. These different genres follow different rules or CONVENTIONS. That is, they may have different character types, plots, narratives, aesthetics and so on, which make them recogniseably part of a certain genre. There has been some debate about the extent to which directors (or AUTEURS) are free to be ignore these conventions - have a look here for some IB level notes on the subject.)

Disney have such a recogniseable style that they are practically a genre on their own. Watch this extract from The Lion King (1994), and make notes about the ways in which it is a 'typical' Disney movie.



How do other genres differ? Have a look at an extract from the Japanese anime classic Akira (1988). How does it differ from the Disney example? Think about palette, animation style, subject matter, soundtrack, characterisation and anything else. Also consider whether the audiences for these two texts have different profiles and whether they are using these texts for different gratifications.




And here's a comparative analysis, courtesy of Ms Crystal Yip. Thanks, Crystal!
Assuming that the two clips are typical examples of Disney and anime, how do they differ? The two clips we are comparing are from The Lion King and Akira. The general palette for the Lion King and Akira are very different. Just from looking at the stills, the colours featured in the Lion King are brighter and more varied, featuring blues, reads and greens all around. In Akira, the scene is set differently, therefore possibly affecting the overall palette. The colors here are reserved and very dark. There are some small dashes of bright color when it comes to explosions, so they tend to make an even bigger impact when they occur. The character design is also very different, with the disney characters taking on huge eyes and animals, the characters from Akira looking quite intimidating and rough. This shows a difference in audience and demographic. The narrative is very simple in terms of plot in the Lion King. The idea of good versus evil is common in these two shows, but Lion King seems to be stripped down to the simplest concept you can get with it. Akira seems to have a more complicated plot with science fiction elements added in, which also suggests an older audience. Representation of the characters is highly traditional in the Lion King, with typical father/mentor figure, and the traditional ‘housewife’ stereotype with the female lion. The evil characters are very easily distinguished with darker colours and evil expressions. This is because the target audience this is aimed at may find it hard to follow a complicated plot. Akira seems to show two motorcycle gangs as the main antagonist and protagonist teams, and neither are traditionally hero-like. This suggests a more complex cast of characters and therefore an older audience. Disney characters are also apart from being very traditional very sexist and racist. The hyenas portrayed as the villains have clear Hispanic accents and the role of the female lion is minimal, and seems to only be there for love interest. The soundtrack in the Lion King is happy and uplifting, establishing the overall mood of the film. The main theme was also composed by a famous singer, which uses star appeal to get a wider range of audience, not just the target ones. Synergy is used so that the younger audience is exposed to the star that they most likely would not have heard of, and the star therefore also increases his popularity. The soundtrack in Akira does not stand out at all, and seems just to be there to enhance the mood a bit. The music also sounds very minimalist and dark. The audience also seems to differ. The Lion King seems to aim at younger audiences from 5-12 of any gender, and Akira seems to aim at males from ages 15-25. The demographic for Lion King can be around B or C, and Akira seems to be around C-E. The Uses and Gratifications used here are Diversion and Self Identification, and although the to shows use the same gratifications, the way it is presented is very different. Akira seems to be more realistic and people can relate to the main characters, whereas the Lion King creates a role model for people to look up to. Therefore, in conclusion although the two films may be similar in terms of style, the way it is executed is very different as the target audience is different. Crystal Yip 10T