Manchester Animation Festival - Day Two

Day two at HOME began with Student Films 1, a collection of 11 shorts by graduate students.
The first of these was called The Wrong End of the Stick, and was interesting, to say the least. Though graphic and often surprising, I found it to be one of my favourites - it was exceptionally well animated, and the characters were believable despite circumstances (the protagonist struggling with his identity as a human). It was also exceptionally British. There is something to be said for a film that can show two characters conversing awkwardly about unusual sexual behaviour, while also having tea and toast. I also just adored the way that 2D characters were integrated into a live action, three-dimensional world. I would love to know how the students who created the film were able to get props - such as cups of tea - in the real world to move and interact with the characters.

Another animation that stood out to me from this showcase was a short called Wildfire. Though I found the story a little confusing, the animation was gorgeous, especially the character and scenic design. The scope of the fire felt so real, and you could almost feel the heat. The main character's obsession with the fire, and her addiction to it, was shown so effectively. I also loved how the main character, while female and a mother and wife, was not typically feminine. She has a square, masculine jawline, and is large, but not fat. She wears a hoodie when she's not working, and is shown as powerful, yet still emotional. Her design was inspiring, and I would love to create characters like her. 

I also saw a VR film on Wednesday called Hoodoo by a company called Blue Zoo. I have a small amount of experience using VR, but this was unlike anything else I had ever done. It was amazing - even though I knew it was only a film, and none of it was realistic in terms of animation, it still felt so real in terms of being in the scene. To be able to interact with the environment certainly added to the illusion of reality, and (spoiler) when the ground around me fell away to reveal land far, far below, I felt a slight lurch of vertigo. As amazing as the VR experience is, I can see it become almost addictive as it gets cheaper and more mainstream. I didn't really want to leave the world of VR - it was colourful, friendly, and safe. I think it would also be good in allowing people to overcome their fears - especially heights - in a "safe" reality.