I found today’s lecture on the mise-en-scène elements of animation and film really interesting. It is great how such physical components actually come together and are able to tell a story or even make one feel something.
Large animation studios using such methods, especially how Studio Ghibli mastered the use of mise-en-scène in Spirited Away, have been what really drew my interest. Such highly conscious juxtaposition of warm, natural lighting in the human world to the otherworldly atmosphere of the spirit realm perfectly shows how technical choices can reinforce deeper themes. This parallels examples from the lecture, though offering a unique cultural perspective on these universal techniques.
What really caught my attention was the camera angles. Just as the lecture showed using The Incredibles, high-angle shots made the character appear weaker; similarly, in Persepolis, low shots would be used stragegically to convey the opposite. These are not only stylised moments but have full implications for the development of the character’s psyche and the plot itself.
Another pivotal factor became shot types. Drawing from examples in the lecture, it could be noticed that Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse uses extreme close-ups during Miles’ transformation sequences to capture minute changes in emotions. It’s intimate framings like this that really make for powerful character moments that palpably affect viewers.
The lighting section opened up new perspectives on animation possibilities. While examining different lighting techniques in animation, I found it interesting how films like Over the Moon use dramatic lighting shifts to signal transitions between reality and fantasy. This demonstrates the ongoing evolution of foundational lighting principles in modern animation.
In the future, I will be critically gauging these elements in animated works. Indeed, knowledge of the technical aspects of mise-en-scène made me more appreciative of animation as a medium resourceful in storytelling. It was a perfect lecture-it got across how everything interacts in a meaningfully conveyed visual narration of why thoughtful visual composition in animation is important.
This helps me to raise an analysis of how modern animators expand the core techniques while developing new ways to approach visual storytelling. Every visual choice in animation creates some kind of narrative experience.