Animation Isn’t Just for Kids, and Here are 4 Reasons to Prove It
When you think of the word ‘animation,’ what is the first thing that you think of?
Probably a Disney cartoon, right? Hardly surprising, but think about how, over the years, we have watched animation evolve. It’s used for more than just entertainment – animation is used in advertising, education, and all kinds of fields.
You might have grown up with familiar animated characters like Buzz Lightyear, the Smurfs, Sonic the Hedgehog, or Sleeping Beauty. At one time or another, we have all lost ourselves in the fictional world of animation. What we aren’t taking into consideration is that animation remains a part of our lives to this day outside of the average Saturday morning cartoon.
Consider the 4 ways animation is consumable for adults just as much as kids.
1. You can explore new realms with animation.
Due to its limitless articulation abilities, animation can give you a doorway to new worlds based on physics and geometry.
A good example of this is given by experimental animated movies. Created during the 1920s as a reaction to other kind of abstract artwork, these movies endeavored to instill an emotional response from the audience exclusively through the use of light, shapes, motion, and rhythm.
Without human characters and a storyline, people won’t be distracted by outlandish nonsense. They can absorb your message, instead.
2. Animation can aid you in exploring various cultures.
A lot can be learned about different countries by assessing the type of animation they like. We see the Japanese through the perspective of their anime interests, while the USA is akin to Looney Tunes.
Several cartoons are broadly consumed in some nations while being censored (or banned) in others (for instance, China has forbidden content involving Winnie the Pooh).
3. Animation is quite enjoyable and tends to contain a philosophical take on the world.
Not all animation is geared at children. It is usually passed off as childish because most people have never seen adult-oriented animated movies with topics addressing important matters (including climate change or world issues).
For instance, in the film “Chico and Rita,” the theme is racism-centric. In “Persepolis,” the Iranian regime from the perspective of a young girl is shown. In “When the Wind Blows,” nuclear war tragedies are addressed. These are but a few subjects touched upon in animated movies using unique and compelling ways.
The sky is the limit with regards to the educational potential of animation. You can use it to articulate sensitive subjects; instructors can trust animation to liven up their otherwise uninterested students, explaining all kinds of issues through a visual platform.
4. Animation is more versatile than actors in a regular movie.
You can do much more with animation than you can with a live-action movie. Animators can tell their story however they like: one scene can take place on a different planet; another can transpire in a Canadian subway. In a 1968 absurdist French cartoon called “Les Shadoks,” the sun and moon are relocated using a crank run by a shadok (a creature with bird-like features). Because the character drank alcohol on the job frequently, his perspective of time is warped, as represented with the sun and moon props. That is the beauty of animation: anything you can think of can be drawn up regardless of how unrealistic it may seem.
Bonus: Animation integrates storytelling with art.
Animation is an approach to creatively mix visual artistry with compelling stories. You can see its potential for various branches of promotion (including content and visual marketing), in addition to education. The rising growth of commercial animation use and a quality animated explainer video allows companies to reap the rewards it brings.
Compelling visuals combined with a captivating plot aids in articulating your concepts to clients with a miraculous effect. Animated stories can separate brands from their competition.