For my story, I knew when we were tasked to create a 1 Minute animation that I wanted my story to reflect the animation/narratives/animatic style that has inspired me throughout my progression as an animator. Some of the key influencers for this project have been Hayao Miyazaki, Mamoru Hosoda, Makoto Shinkai, Keiichi Sugiyama, Pendleton Ward, And Porter Robinsons animated music video ‘Shelter’.
I want to be able to create a character that resonates with a huge audience, having my character as a young innocent human being will already play on most peoples emotions and open up a connection from the get-go.
https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/07/maternal-instinct-is-wired-into-the-brain/
https://www.sciencenews.org/blog/growth-curve/staring-baby-eyes-brain-waves-sync
As human beings are apparently ‘hardwired for connections’ especially when it comes to young children and this connecting to our instinctive nature (Paternal instinct and maternal instinct) to survive and to procreate in order to ‘keep the human race alive’. Especially when you look at why young children look how they do and how this connects to us, for example, large eyes on a baby and young child have what I would describe as a rather hypnotic element to them, I know when I look at a baby they tend to lock onto you and you both end up staring at each other. As the baby is trying to figure you out, life out etc, you take it upon yourself to show this new life how you should respond to human interaction, by smiling, waving, talking slowly, laughing and giving them the attention they need. This is such a crucial part in their development, so by having my child, not as young as a baby but still a child all the same, on her own in this unusual and strange world will hopefully trigger the viewers impulsive and internal empathy, concern and warmth.
CCH-Animation Degree 