Essay Quiz 2

Last Thursday we watched Geri’s Game in class which went along with the Pixar readings perfectly (obviously). In class we talked about how this was one of the first time Pixar projects where they worked on creating a believable human (and cloths too). And in the Technology and the Evolution of Storytelling reading John Lasseter said “It’s not the technology that entertains people, it’s what you do with the technology.” which is so true. I know I wasn’t paying attention to Geri’s skin or cloths I was just enjoying the story, which shows that storytelling really is the most important thing as mentioned in the Pixar’s Storytelling reading. John Lasseter also said “I always viewed the technology as simply a tool”. And that's exactly how Pixar uses it, technology is a tool to improve your art, but if it’s all about the technology that will apart obvious. Over the past twenty years Pixar has made leaps and bounds in animation. But it is only when you put images of their past a present works together that you realize how far they have come.

Even though Geri is an old man and Riley is a little girl you can still see how different they are and how far Pixar has come.

Essay Quiz 2 Extra Credit

My personal favorite film we have watched throughout the semester is Owl Marries a Goose by Caroline Leaf. Sure, this film is found quite humorous and I do enjoy humor, however this film meant a lot more to me. I shared this film with many of my friends, and have watched it several times. Not only do I very much enjoy the new type of Animation Leaf introduces through her sand works, but I also love the unique message that is portrayed throughout Owl Marries a Goose, and I can connect with it on a personal level. The story of an owl who falls hopelessly in love with a goose he cannot begin to keep up with does not necessarily seem like something many people can relate to. However, this film tells a story everyone is familiar with; hopelessness in trying to reach the level of acceptance in a culture so resistant to individuality. The owl wanted so desperately to fit in with the flock of geese, and tries to mimic who they are and what they do. But in the end none of his attempts mattered. He could not be something he wasn't. This is a main struggle throughout many people's lives, trying to live up to the standards of something or someone they are not. This is particularly true with me. I have always tried to gain others acceptance, and it has been an extreme struggle in my life, creating feelings of being useless, unwanted, and not good enough. I am the owl, and all I ever wanted in life was to become a goose, to be someone I was not, because those were the people in life who had it all. However I realized that being the owl is not a bad thing, as long as you accept it and live it out with pride. Caroline Leaf was different, she introduced a unique style by using sand techniques, she was the owl and she accepted and shared it. That is what all of our readings have been about, accepting uniqueness. That is what all art is -- living it out with pride. Embracing your differences, exposing your quirks, teaching the world that it is a good thing to be different.