Yo Gabba Gabba

          This website was very interactive and the interface design stood out a lot. The type of animation used is very suitable for children. It reminded me of other interactive websites such as PBS and Cartoon Network that used similar animation features on the website. The sounds and playful noises make the website even more interactive. It is also very reminiscent of a child's toy-- where when a child hits a button, a certain noise will play. In other words, the website is a virtual children's toy. Not only is it interactive, it is informational. In addition, there seems to be classic animation styles that are more pixelated as well as newer styles in high definition.

Chapman Brothers : Fucken Hell

          This piece of work has a very different approach from traditional definitions of an animation. The whole piece reminded me of dioramas. Although there were no movements and every scene looked like stills from movies, the use of the music brought the figures to life. I attempted to watch the video without sounds and it definitely did not have the same effect. It seemed like every different scene came straight out of a movie at the end of a battle scene or at the conclusion of gruesome war. I guess that's why this piece was titled "Fucken Hell". The approach to capture these figurines and miniature environments by panning and occasional close-ups of the characters worked very well for me. This just added more of a cinematic feel to this piece.

Lotte Reiniger - Jack and the Beanstalk (1955)

          First, this animation reminded me of what the story was actually about. I had forgotten because it's been a long way from elementary school. This animations definitely gave it a different feel and perspective with the style and music in the animation. Just like Hansel and Gretel, Reiniger's style of animation works very well for me. The silhouettes of the characters are 2D and flat, but with the movements and drawn backgrounds, the animation gives viewers a sense of 3-dimension and realistic movements. Although I may not see the outlines between the arms and shoulders of a character or when a characters faces different direction, the outlines of the silhouettes are very refined and detailed that viewers can subconsciously see it.  The quick and "broken", or non-smooth, movements of the characters makes me think of all the joints of the characters were connected with one of those gold pins used to make paper clocks. I forgot the what those were called...

Evan Tapper - Listening Portrait Booth

          I thought this was a very interesting and clever installment. It reminded me of street vendors in New York City who draw caricatures for money. But the special elements in Tappers installment was the hidden identities of the participants and the conversations he had with them. Those elements, in a sense, seem to make his work more meaningful and unique. This installment definitely worked for me. Even if the drawings didn't come out the way the person actually looked, i feel as though even just conversing with the participants, for someone like Tapper, who's had experience drawing people face to face before, that simple gestures can be assumed through language. And ultimately I think that the valuable part of this installment is the spontaneous and element of surprise that makes this impressive.