The Tell-tale Heart (1953) produced by UPA is an amazing work of psychological horror using animation that, in my view, perhaps consolidated cinematic methods of the horror genre and pioneered them in animation. The strong presence of the ‘camera’, its jittering and hovering movement, and its use to show the ‘point-of-view’ of the character is very immersive and effectively unsettling. UPA’s highly graphic style coupled with the strong light/dark contrast, culminate in a very innovative use of positive and negative space that might not be possible with a more realistic approach.
UPA’s John Hubley is the animator who stands out most to me, for his direction of Rooty Toot Toot (1951). From its adult mystery story and jazzy number to the visual style that is somehow as geometric and slapstick as it is sensual and human, it was delightful to watch and very memorable. Hubley was fired from UPA due to the Communist witch hunt of the 50s, but he continued innovating in animation, what seems to me towards a film-art or even fine-art direction. Together with his wife Faith, he made films such as Moonbird (1959) and The Hole (1962) which are narratively less linear, perhaps due to the improv/spontaneous element of the dialogue, which drives the story. While still using geometric shapes and minimal lines for character animation as in UPA’s style, what stood out to me was the highly artistic, almost painterly look of the textures, and the use of a multi-plane technique that created spatial depth.
UPA could be further discussed as an influence on animation at large. It would be interesting to investigate how it prompted other major animation studios such as Warner Bros. and Disney to experiment further in animation. UPA’s use of limited animation and flat shapes certainly had a widespread influence: Zagreb Films in Croatia (such as in the 1961 film Ersatz) adheres to these design principles, and Chinese animator A-Da’s work (Three Monks 1980 and Super Soap 1986) demonstrate them in a uniquely Chinese context and setting.
ANIM223 - HISTORY OF ANIMATION - FALL 2019 