After watching different short films for inspiration, I wanted to research the genres and styles used in animation. I realised that before starting my own film, I need to know what kind of story I’m telling and which style will work best for it.
I began by looking at common short film genres: comedy, fantasy, slice-of-life, and experimental. Comedy shorts often rely on exaggerated motion and timing for humour. Fantasy uses imaginative characters and worlds, while slice-of-life focuses on everyday moments told in a creative way.
Paperman
Paperman is a 2012 black-and-white animated short film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and directed by John Kahrs.
Photo credits : Google
This short film falls under the romance genre. I noticed that it uses soft music, black-and-white visuals, and gentle character movements to create an emotional and intimate feeling. There is very little dialogue, but the story is still clear through expressions and actions. This helped me understand that romance in animation often relies heavily on visual storytelling rather than words.
Bao
Bao is a 2018 animated short film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. Written and directed by Domee Shi.
I also looked at Bao, which combines family drama and fantasy. What I found interesting was how the film used food as a central theme while still telling a deep emotional story. The fantasy element (a dumpling coming to life) made the story unique and engaging, while the emotional core made it relatable. This showed me that genres can be combined effectively to create something original.
The Present
The Present is a 2014 animated short film directed and co-written by Jacob Frey, based on a comic strip by Fabio Coala.
This short fits into the drama genre and focuses on emotional storytelling. It uses a simple narrative and a small number of characters, but still creates a strong emotional impact. I noticed that the animation style is quite simple, yet very effective. This made me realise that I don’t need overly complex animation to tell a meaningful story.
What I have learned from this research and How this will help my final project
For my own animated short film, I am interested in combining romance and fantasy. My research has helped me understand how I can use genre conventions while also adding my own creative ideas. I now feel more confident in choosing a direction for my story.
I began by looking at common short film genres: comedy, fantasy, slice-of-life, and experimental. Comedy shorts often rely on exaggerated motion and timing for humour. Fantasy uses imaginative characters and worlds, while slice-of-life focuses on everyday moments told in a creative way.
Paperman
Paperman is a 2012 black-and-white animated short film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and directed by John Kahrs.
Photo credits : Google
This short film falls under the romance genre. I noticed that it uses soft music, black-and-white visuals, and gentle character movements to create an emotional and intimate feeling. There is very little dialogue, but the story is still clear through expressions and actions. This helped me understand that romance in animation often relies heavily on visual storytelling rather than words.
Bao
Bao is a 2018 animated short film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. Written and directed by Domee Shi.
I also looked at Bao, which combines family drama and fantasy. What I found interesting was how the film used food as a central theme while still telling a deep emotional story. The fantasy element (a dumpling coming to life) made the story unique and engaging, while the emotional core made it relatable. This showed me that genres can be combined effectively to create something original.
by Google
The Present is a 2014 animated short film directed and co-written by Jacob Frey, based on a comic strip by Fabio Coala.
This short fits into the drama genre and focuses on emotional storytelling. It uses a simple narrative and a small number of characters, but still creates a strong emotional impact. I noticed that the animation style is quite simple, yet very effective. This made me realise that I don’t need overly complex animation to tell a meaningful story.
What I have learned from this research and How this will help my final project
For my own animated short film, I am interested in combining romance and fantasy. My research has helped me understand how I can use genre conventions while also adding my own creative ideas. I now feel more confident in choosing a direction for my story.
This knowledge guides my story, characters, and visuals, giving me confidence to create a clear and engaging narrative for my final project.
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