Study Task 3 -  Animation Analysis Essay

Animal Farm (1954)

Demonstrates my ability to analyze ONE ANIMATION, applying what I have learned about the topic from piece one.

·      To introduce some of the philosophical and theoretical approaches to visual communication that we will develop over the next two years.

·      To demonstrate the power of visual communication.

Animal Farm (1954) Animal Farm is a 1954 British adult animated comedy-drama film by Halas and Batchelor, based on the book Animal Farm by George Orwell. It was the first British animated feature to be released. 

Animal farm relates to the chosen quote from the book ‘The uses of enchantment’ because this is an educational full length cartoon on the horrors of tyranny in a developing society growing from depression. Animal Farm is a book based entirely on the concept of conflict and the many forms of it, for example the farm animals which the audience would see as neutral characters rising up against their oppressing farmer are perceived as the victim and truly innocent in their courageous spirit but the animation progresses to show through imagery of conflicts between the animals what form the true villain is and teaching the viewers of the many different faces of evil and corruption in a society. 

We start off the story with a revolution provoked by the mistreatment of the animal workers by Mr. Jones, the drunken farmer because of a bad yearning of crops. After this the animals hold the first meeting when a sage, old boar tells his fellow farm animals of a dream he had of a place where all animals could be equal and in charge of themselves, they decide to revolt against their human oppressor. After the revolution there is conflict between the new leaders, the pigs, about how to run the farm. This particular conflict is solved by Napoleon chasing Snowball out of the farm with a pack of vicious dogs. After Snowball is chased away, all conflict rising from the "working-class" animals is stifled by the character, Squealer and his reassuring words that describe the immaculateness of Napoleon and his rule. Napoleon, goes against all of the commandments of Animal Farm's equality to bring profit and pleasure to himself and the other pigs. While the field animals are being forced to work harder and be fed less, they start to be unable to tell the difference between pigs and humans. 

Throughout this part of the short tale the audience is met with constant moralities of the unwilling farm animals as they seek to better their future under various oppressions, expressing the vulnerable state of being constrained and controlled with propaganda and right winged social reactionary, the character called Squealer expressions which is described as tainted hope for a better future masking over the truth behind the plots of propaganda and false promises. 

Towards the end of the novel, Napoleon is sleeping in Jones' bed, eating from Jones' plate, drinking alcohol, wearing a derby hat, walking on two legs, trading with humans, and sharing a toast with the character Mr. Pilkington. This conflict is never resolved, it is put off through trickery and lies expressed through the imagery used such as the animal’s rights, shown as writing on the barn wall, which are altered for the betterment of the pigs. The final act of propaganda changing the Seventh Commandment to "ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL / BUT SOME ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS" reflects his unchallenged belief that he belongs in complete control of the farm. This can be viewed as metaphoric imagery for the civil rights of any society and how they can be easily altered or changed when we believe in the power above us and accept the guide lines, this is also represented through the pig tyrant being shown as controlling everyone with lines of thread. 

These are the only distinguishable hints of a possible evil, in acts of subtle force and aggression, which the audience accepts only to ensure a stronger success, but realize the schemes behind the betrayal of the society towards the end with more suffering than retribution as the true villain willingly exposes them self before the “working-class” become desperate to survive as they begin to work themselves to death. The audience realized the message of this tale is for morality in the eyes of the beholder and how power can often lead to corruption and oppression.

LECTURE 3, History of the image

The influence of imagery and how it effects the aspirations of the target audience, these techniques are sometimes tainted with nationalist messages.

This image compels the message in relation to Animal Farm about trusting the leading figure and what intentions they have in wait for the society, the poster implies the “hope” of the movement, fighting for “inequity” of the society. Concept for “HOPE” in Obama’s poster was replaced by the sentence “Minister Obama, we HOPE you are on our side.” With the guy Fawkes mask represents

Guy Fawkes mask represents a symbol for fighting corruption, a symbol of their part in activism, it’s a symbol of awareness. The verge of change, and the Guy Fawkes mask represents that hope. Though change its self is viewed as a neutral divide between good and bad, “we HOPE you’re on our side” what will this change determine for our society.

These metaphoric images are also featured throughout history and the main villain, Napoleon the pig is based on Joseph Stalin, like Napoleon uses military force (his nine loyal attack dogs) to intimidate the other animals and consolidate his power. Stalin was a cruel leader during his rule over the USSR who would eliminate anyone who got in his way, much like Stalin, Napoleon used violence in order to maintain his ruling position in Animal Farm. One example of this can be seen in the puppies trained to eliminate anyone who stands in his way.

"Stalin's regime is not only as bad as Jones's, but worse and more cynical", and Napoleon "not only as bad as JONES but vastly worse" George Orwell.

Based on the problems resulting from Russian Revolution, Mr. Jones and Czar Nicholas II both could not control their citizens.  Mr. Jones would let his animals starve and Czar Nicholas II did not help the Russian when they wanted more voice/power and better working conditions.  In the end, the animals/people revolted and the weak leaders could only do so little. Mr. Jones put milk in the animal mash and Czar Nicholas II hired the students as spies to make money.