What is animation? The 'Six Blind Men and an Elephant' conundrum. Issue 1 (1st December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Matarazzo, Vera
• Is Part Of: Animation practice, process & production. Volume 5:Issue 1(2015)
• Page Start: 15
• Page End: 38
• Publication Date: 2016-12-01
• Subjects: Animation (Cinematography) -- Periodicals; Computer animation -- Periodicals; 777.7
• DOI: 10.1386/ap3.5.1.15_1
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2042-7875

Abstract

This article examines how to define animation. It aims to critique attempts to briefly define animation in its essence, through an examination of several quandaries and pitfalls related to such attempts, including their lines of reasoning, justifications and defining boundaries. It shows that definitions of animation are influenced by how individuals attempting a definition relate to animation (animators, scholars, critics, etc.). It concludes that most attempts to define animation succinctly resemble themselves and present similar problems, being inadequate to properly explain the term and its relation to live-action film. Since animation cannot be properly defined in these succinct formulations, a more comprehensive and developed definition is proposed.