Favourite Animated Moments - Herbstlaub

This week, a little more abstract. I remember being shown this short in a History of Moving Picture lecture by Teesside's very own Justin Greatham, way back in my first year, late 2007. Now, experimental animation isn't something I come across often. I admit I do have a bad habit as to stick with what I know, character based animation. however this piece has stayed in my memory ever since I first set eyes on it, and I think one of the main reasons for this is the 'ear worm' of a tune the film is set too. Animation and music go hand in hand with each other, so Herbstlaub is a great, if not unorthodox, piece to study before moving on the the song and dance assignment of the AP2 module. Herbstlaub is a sort of 'coming of age' story, and the main character is, a dot. Yes, a dot. The film shows the dots birth, journey through life's many obstacles, and finally meeting another, like minded dot to continue on life's journey with.


Obstacles of any shape and form are encountered...


... Although varying, each obstacle shares and follows the same pulsating rhythm...


...lead to the beat of driving, a capella vocals...


... Creating a highly synesthetic effect. The music the film is set to was created by the films creators and resident animation department choir at the German Filmakademie Baden- Wurtemberg, especially for the film. It is my belief that having both the visuals and accompanying music created by the same team, lead to a fully synesthetic experience on screen. Although not a piece of character animation I the literal sense, the film is not without character. There is still an identifiable lead, with a purpose and a goal, something for the audience to latch on to and relate to. I find a certain point from Ed Hooks' 'Acting for Animators', is just as applicable to this film, as any other piece of acting, "Movement is an effort to survive in the world." Every little thing motion of the dot on screen is driven by one desire, by one motivation, to survive, in an increasingly busy, ever changing world.


The dot's desire is fulfilled when it meets another dot on it's journey...


... They form a union...


... The pair continue on their journey, facing any oncoming obstacles together.