Blog 4: Real and Realism

Walt Disney stated, "I definitely feel that we cannot do the fantastic things based on the real unless we first know the real." In other words, a basic understanding of anatomy, physics, and the way things move is pivotal to creating characters and scenes that are realistically fantastical.

Given that a scenario or character cannot be believable in fantasy without the suspension of disbelief, one must understand that it is vital as much as can be realistic is realistic. In animation, since there is another layer of disbelief - these are not just unreal people, they are also presented in an unreal medium - it takes even more understanding of physics and anatomy.

This seems contradictory to chapter 2 of The Illusion of Life since this chapter is talking about how realism simply doesn't work in animation. However, with a closer look, there is no discrepancy. An understanding of realism is not the same as having animation be realistic.

For example, in Sleeping Beauty, a basic understanding of anatomy is needed to animate the characters - especially the people but also the creatures. However, the people themselves are not entirely realistic. For the audience to believe the animation and to demonstrate fluid movement, some artistic liberties are taken.