The Corpse Bride
There are three things that makes The Corpse Bride an incredible example of animation. The three things that I will be focusing on are the angle of the camera, the multiple things that move simultaneously, and the way colors and shadows is used for creating a mood.
When it comes to the camera angle, there are many angles that are used, and these angles were not used accidentally, they were done on purpose. At some times, the angle was shot from below the subject, making them look grand and important. This camera angle was used when Victor gave his speech to the skeletons that he will kill himself in order ton properly marry Emily. This angle was used to make Victor look tall and imposing. This angle was used also because the skeletons Victor was talking about were below him, therefore we could see the action unfold through one of the skeleton's eye. Another example of a shot taken from a low angle is when the wedding cake was brought in. This low angle made the cake look bigger than it actually was and it also made it look bigger than the skeletons themselves. Moreover, another time the low angle shot was taken is when in the end, Victor and Victoria were looking above to the moon. This angle made it easier to see what the characters saw through their perspective. Another angle used is over the shoulder, where you would see the the shoulder and the back of the face of one character and the entire face of another character. This angle was used in the end between Victor and the governor. This angle was used so when the governor said something that Victor did not like, we could see the body language of Victor to understand how he felt. An interesting angle that was used in this film is the through a person's eye angle. In this camera angle, we saw what happened, directly through the character's eyes. This angle was used when the old skeleton picked up the boy and hugged him. This angle was used so we can see what the character sees and also to make an interesting break from the below angle, above angle shots that used. And finally, the above angle shot was used in this film. An example of where this angle was used is when the skeletons were dancing and one of the skeletons was looking down at them. This angle was use so the audience could easily understand that the skeleton was looking at the dancing skeletons. An interesting thing about this angle is that it made the skeleton looking down big, and the skeletons dancing small, which added to the three-dimensional look.
There were a lot of things moving at the same times that must have been really hard to perfect, but added to the movie's value. When the skeletons were dancing, their heads, arms, hands, legs, feet, and mouths were moving simultaneously. This made us truly believe that they were dancing and not robots with rigid movements. When the skeletons and the undead went to the surface, all the people started running around and yelling. Again there was a lot of movement involved with the bodies of the living people. This large amount of movement made us believe there was chaos and pandemonium. When Victor and the governor were fighting, their whole bodies were moving. Th large amount of movement made us think that they were actually fighting and fighting with all their strength.
Color and shadows made the mood and the atmosphere of this film. In the living world, everything was black and gray. This made us think that the people were sullen, gloomy and boring. Their boring actions correlates with the colors used. In quite the contradictory, the land of the dead was full of color and light. This made the viewers think that the dead always have a good time and the evidence is when the undead would dance, sing, and have fun. Different colors were used at different significant events in the movie. When Emily was walking down the church aisle in order to properly marry Victor, she and the things around her were really white. This makes us think that she is holy, pure, angelic and innocent. When the undead arrived to the living world, everything was green, making the mood creepy, mysterious and strange. Another example of when color is used for an advantage is when Victor and the governor battle. There was a red light on everything and this is because they wanted a color that represented large amounts of action, violence and suspense. Shadows were used to add to the realism of this movie. One time that the shadows made us feel something is when the skeletons walked towards the governor. The shadows of the skeletons moved up and down very creepily and terrifyingly. This use of shadow adds to the effect a movie has to the audience.
When it comes to the camera angle, there are many angles that are used, and these angles were not used accidentally, they were done on purpose. At some times, the angle was shot from below the subject, making them look grand and important. This camera angle was used when Victor gave his speech to the skeletons that he will kill himself in order ton properly marry Emily. This angle was used to make Victor look tall and imposing. This angle was used also because the skeletons Victor was talking about were below him, therefore we could see the action unfold through one of the skeleton's eye. Another example of a shot taken from a low angle is when the wedding cake was brought in. This low angle made the cake look bigger than it actually was and it also made it look bigger than the skeletons themselves. Moreover, another time the low angle shot was taken is when in the end, Victor and Victoria were looking above to the moon. This angle made it easier to see what the characters saw through their perspective. Another angle used is over the shoulder, where you would see the the shoulder and the back of the face of one character and the entire face of another character. This angle was used in the end between Victor and the governor. This angle was used so when the governor said something that Victor did not like, we could see the body language of Victor to understand how he felt. An interesting angle that was used in this film is the through a person's eye angle. In this camera angle, we saw what happened, directly through the character's eyes. This angle was used when the old skeleton picked up the boy and hugged him. This angle was used so we can see what the character sees and also to make an interesting break from the below angle, above angle shots that used. And finally, the above angle shot was used in this film. An example of where this angle was used is when the skeletons were dancing and one of the skeletons was looking down at them. This angle was use so the audience could easily understand that the skeleton was looking at the dancing skeletons. An interesting thing about this angle is that it made the skeleton looking down big, and the skeletons dancing small, which added to the three-dimensional look.
There were a lot of things moving at the same times that must have been really hard to perfect, but added to the movie's value. When the skeletons were dancing, their heads, arms, hands, legs, feet, and mouths were moving simultaneously. This made us truly believe that they were dancing and not robots with rigid movements. When the skeletons and the undead went to the surface, all the people started running around and yelling. Again there was a lot of movement involved with the bodies of the living people. This large amount of movement made us believe there was chaos and pandemonium. When Victor and the governor were fighting, their whole bodies were moving. Th large amount of movement made us think that they were actually fighting and fighting with all their strength.
Color and shadows made the mood and the atmosphere of this film. In the living world, everything was black and gray. This made us think that the people were sullen, gloomy and boring. Their boring actions correlates with the colors used. In quite the contradictory, the land of the dead was full of color and light. This made the viewers think that the dead always have a good time and the evidence is when the undead would dance, sing, and have fun. Different colors were used at different significant events in the movie. When Emily was walking down the church aisle in order to properly marry Victor, she and the things around her were really white. This makes us think that she is holy, pure, angelic and innocent. When the undead arrived to the living world, everything was green, making the mood creepy, mysterious and strange. Another example of when color is used for an advantage is when Victor and the governor battle. There was a red light on everything and this is because they wanted a color that represented large amounts of action, violence and suspense. Shadows were used to add to the realism of this movie. One time that the shadows made us feel something is when the skeletons walked towards the governor. The shadows of the skeletons moved up and down very creepily and terrifyingly. This use of shadow adds to the effect a movie has to the audience.