Critical Assessment of the Short "Oktapodi"

Analysis:

Assignment Outcome: Students will have identified elements of narrative and used expressive writing skill to describe a film’s intention and outcome.

Please organize your writing by following this brief and the template below:

1. A.    Introduction/Synopsis:

Before you start going into story or film language let the reader know what kind of piece we are looking at. Is it a short film or a TV-ad? How long is it? Is the technique relevant?  What kind of film is it?

Story

1. Describe the story as it unfolds on the screen. Do this in terms of story and not in technical terms of film language.  What happens on the screen, who are the acting characters and what is the setting? Stick with the facts of the screen and stay away from interpretation.

New: Do this in your mind and when watching the piece in detail. Do not write it all out. Save your energy for the more important chapters. Just write a synopsis here – of what happens on the screen.

2.     The story as it appears on the screen may not be the full story. Interpretation and cultural references in the audiences mind and with the audiences’ knowledge complete the full picture of the story as what it means. There are also the filmmakers motivations: Are they showing off their skills or testing a new software or selling a real product? What is this piece about? Most films have a number of layers of meaning.

Film language/Discourse

3.  Describe in as much detail as possible the form of the expression; address the structure of the narrative transmission by how the film told the story?

Film language used includes the animation technique camera-work, editing, animation, art & design (style etc.), music and sound effects used.

4. This is about how the used film language relates to the story and its meaning:

     Try to connect how the film language impacts on the story being told. Does the design, the editing etc. enhance the narrative aspects in any way or would it have been better to use a different form of film language to express this particular story.

 5.How does this film relate to and fit into animation history.

Be accurate in your descriptions:

 Avoid subjective adjectives and phrases like ‘good’, ‘bad’, ‘works well’, ‘looks OK’. If you find yourself wanting to use these terms, examine why you feel it can be thus labeled and discuss.

Be specific about film language e.g. don’t just say ‘oh, and he also uses music really well’ – describe what kind of music is being used and what it does to tell the story…

Avoid personal comments and interpretations as much as you can, prove everything you say by looking at the material in front of you. Don’t assume or jump to conclusions